Moon Child

The Truth

- Selena Rhys -

My mind was a total mess yesterday. Not to mention I didn’t get to ask what I needed to. Ugh. What a complete waste of opportunity!

I stood up from my bed and walked towards the balcony. My room was directly above the entrance of the mansion. I could see the lap pool and landscaped garden from here. The garden… I thought as I gazed at the spot where I met Calum yesterday.  Who would’ve thought that he’d turn out to be that Cale Dolores always talked about? I remembered all the times I asked about him. When I was adjusting to my secluded life in the woods, I would always cry at night when I miss my parents. That’s when Dolores would tell me stories about him. How brave he was. How he would take care of his two older sisters whenever his parents were away. I admired him and it was stories about him that helped me cope with the loneliness I suffered through when I was young. Now that I think about it, he is nowhere near the bright and cheerful Cale I grew up to admire. What could have happened to him?

I closed my eyes and gathered my strength. I need to talk with him again. I turned the door knob to my room only to realize it was locked from the outside. I knocked at the door and called for someone but to my dismay nobody answered.

“Hello! Is anybody there? I need something” I called again. This time someone answered.

“What is it that you need, my lady” The girl from yesterday answered. I tried to think of something so they’d open the door for me.

“Uhm… I’m hungry. Can you give me some food” I said, hoping she buys my excuse.

“My lady, your food is already on the table in the left side of your room” I inwardly groaned when I noticed the covered tray on the table. My mistake. I tried thinking of another excuse but I’m stumped. Where’s Adam when you need him? Ah! A light bulb popped in my head as I thought of a new idea.

“Can I please take a walk in the garden? I feel a little stuffy inside” I asked her with the most innocent voice I could muster.

“I’m sorry my lady, but you are not allowed to leave the room. If there’s nothing else, I will be leaving for a while to prepare your dinner.” She said as I heard her footsteps fade away. I called for her again but nobody answered. Well… that was an utter failure. So, what do I do now?

I heard a car parked in front of the house and I hurriedly looked who it was. I almost jumped when I saw whose car it was… It’s Calum’s! I waited for a while but there was no sight of him. I became more impatient as the minutes ticked by.

That’s it! I climbed over the balcony and hugged it’s railing so I don’t fall off. I looked beneath me to see if there’s anything I could use as staircase or something. I noticed small carvings on the marble and used them to slowly descend. My feet trembled when I felt myself slipping. Oh no… I should have left my slippers and went down barefooted. I felt my hands became sweaty which made me slip off of the balcony. I let out a scream as I closed my eyes to brace myself for the loud thud but to my surprise… I didn’t feel any pain on my back. In fact, I felt two strong arms holding my knees and waist.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw Calum looking at me. OH. He caught me. I haven’t recovered yet when he put me down to the ground and began walking towards his car.

“Calum, wait!” I called out to him but he didn’t stop from walking.

“Why do you want to kill me?” I shouted at him. The servants around us gasped in shock and Calum finally looked my way. His expression was unreadable. He just stood there for a few moments and I almost cursed myself for being so tactless. Maybe he’s already contemplating whether to kill me on the spot or something. I instantly took a step back when I saw him walk towards me. He then grabbed my arm and pushed me inside the car. I was so scared I didn’t even struggle.

We drove into the city and he went down to a shop near a church. A woman with short blond hair walked up towards him and they chatted for a little bit. I suddenly felt uncomfortable when I saw the woman touch his left arm when she laughed. I felt even more upset when he didn’t even budge. Isn’t that nice? He can actually talk like a human being. He surely didn’t show that he’s capable of that when he’s with me. My eyes widened when she closed the distance between them, her breasts almost touching him. She slid a piece of paper into his back pocket as she whispered something to his ears. She must’ve noticed me gawking at them because she smiled slyly at me. I quickly turned away. Who is this woman? I don’t even know her but I already dislike her.

A few moments later, Calum went back into the car. I’m so upset I didn’t even bother looking at him. God, I don’t even know why I’m upset… he’s a very good-looking man… what did I expect? Of course, he’ll already have someone. My heart ached at the thought I almost forgot why I wanted to talk with him.

“Why do you want to kill me?” I asked him, forgetting to hide the annoyance in my voice. He stared at the road ahead us before he finally spoke.

“How did you know?” He asked.       

“I heard you… that night when you carried me to the room” I answered him.

“Oh.” He said nonchalantly.

“Aren’t you going to answer my question?” I impatiently looked at him and found him staring at me as well. I almost blushed at our proximity. I turned my attention to my hands on my lap, wondering if I’d ever get any answer from him.

I heard him sigh and pulled on the hand break. We are now parked under a tree in the town square. A group of students passed us by as they headed to a nearby arcade. There are a lot of people here, maybe if I run away… even Calum won’t hurt me in front of all these people. I looked outside my window trying to find some alley I can run to.

“Because your existence will start a war” I heard him speak from behind me.

“What” I almost choked from his words. I faced him trying to convince myself that he was lying. But he was dead serious.

“Selena, as long as you’re alive, you will be hunted down by those who want to use your powers for their personal gain. As the silver child, your existence itself would lead to the death of many. That’s why I need to put an end to it…NOW” He stated decisively.

I felt all my bones leave my body. I wanted to deny it. But somehow, I knew that he’s telling the truth. It’s not that I didn’t have any idea… I already had a feeling that there was something special about me ever since that night in the lake. Maybe, deep inside me I knew that I was the silver child depicted in the countless books I’ve read. I stared at Calum’s eyes as I remembered one of the books I read – The History and Fall of the Southern Pack. I guess… that also makes me the reason why the bright and cheerful Cale… is no longer.  

I looked down in shame. I have so many things that I wanted to ask him still but I couldn't bring myself to speak any further. All my desire to escape were thrown out of the window as I sighed in defeat.

At least for now… I do understand these things:

First, that I am the silver child; 

Second, that I am captured and would probably be killed to avoid further deaths because of my existence, 

And third… I gazed at the man beside me. That I am undeniably… and hopelessly falling in love with my captor.