The Cursed King's Luna

Chapter 4: Golden Mark

Everything was painful.

The first thing that welcomed me when I regained consciousness was pain. I felt my whole body ached as though it had been torn apart and stitched back together. My eyelids felt unbearably heavy but I forced myself to open it little by little.

A wooden ceiling caught my vision. I didn't expect that because I thought I was still in the forest where I took my last breath. I blinked a few times making sure I am not seeing it wrong.

I could also feel myself breathing. My senses were working. Questions after questions filled my mind.

I'm alive?

My hands instinctively reached for my chest. I felt my heart beating at a steady pace. My fingers trembled a bit as I searched for the wounds Fiona inflicted on me. The memory of her stabbing me was still fresh, I could clearly remember her face and the hatred in her eyes as she killed me. The unbearable pain as my flesh was cut by a sharp knife and the feeling of my warm blood soaking my dress was still lingering.

But now, not a single wound could be felt on my skin.

I sat up and I felt my body aching once again. For a moment, I thought it was just a nightmare but when I saw the torn dress that I was wearing stained with so much blood, it slowly dawned on me. Everything was real.

The ceremony where I failed to transform and I was accused as a human, my escape, Mama's death, and the fact that I died in Fiona's hands were all real. I was not dreaming, it was real.

I buried my face on my trembling hands, hot tears streamed down my cheeks.

"No," I croaked. "It wasn't a nightmare."

My home and my mother were gone. I had nothing left. Everything was destroyed by the pack that raised me.

And Caelum... the man who swore to love me for the rest of my life turned his back to me as if I was nothing, as if I disgusted him. For the past two years, he swore to love me but the last thing he gave me was coldness and indifference.

I have no one and nothing now.

I felt like my heart was being squeezed. The realization that I lost everything was unbearably painful. Would it be better if I just really died?

But then, the divine must have heard my desperate pleas when I was about to die. Under the moonlight, I begged to be given a second chance. Then a silver-eyed man appeared, a strange warmth flowed into my body after I tasted iron. I knew it was his blood.

I slowly lowered my hands stained with my tears. I really died but someone saved me. My pleas were heard. And now, this life is no longer mine to waste.

The pain in my chest was slowly replaced by an emptiness, then coldness crept in with my realization. I didn't lose everything, it was stolen from me. Mama and I were killed. With the second life that I gained, I shall make them pay.

A soft creak interrupted my thought and the wooden door opened. Carrying a steaming bowl of soup, a young boy stepped inside the room.

His black hair fell over his forehead and his dark eyes widened a bit when he saw me.

"You're finally awake," he uttered. "You've been asleep for three days."

Three days? So it didn't happen yesterday, but three days ago? I was asleep for a long time.

"W-who are you?" I murmured.

He walked towards me then he put down the bowl of soup on the bedside table. It was on a tray where there was a spoon and a glass of water.

"My name is Boyd. My master asked me to take care of you while you're sleeping."

My lips parted. "Master?" I whispered. A pair of silver eyes flashed on my mind. Boyd was about to leave so I quickly grabbed his wrist. "Wait... Does your master have silver eyes?"

Could the master he mentioned be the same silver-eyed man who saved me?

He froze for a moment then he shook his head. "I can't answer that." Boyd gently pulled his wrist away from my hand. "I am not allowed to tell you anything." There was finality in his tone.

I gasped for air and watched him retreat. I felt helpless not knowing who my savior was. I didn't have a chance to thank him for the second life he'd given me. Would I meet him someday?

Boyd held the doorknob when he reached it then he glanced at me over his shoulder.

"Eat before you leave. I can't stay here."

Panic rushed through me as I heard that. "Please, Boyd. Don't leave me here," I began to plead. "I have nowhere to go. My home and mother were gone. The people that I thought were my family wanted me dead, my cousin... killed me. I have no one now."

I looked at him with my pleading eyes. I don't want to waste this second life but I also don't know where to start. If I am left in the middle of nowhere, I doubt that I would survive.

There was silence for a while before he sighed.

"Alright, I'll take you somewhere. Eat up and..." He walked to the corner and rummaged through an old box. Boyd found a huge cloak and a dusty dress. "Change into this. You can't walk around smelling like blood." He then handed that to me.

"Thank you." I accepted the clothes he gave me and looked up to him. "Where are we going?"

"To the place where you can start over..." He gave me a small smile. "To the Velarius Palace."

Boyd already left the room but I remained astounded for a while. Velarius Palace? The most important place in this kingdom where the royalties live.

I bit my lower lip, thoughts were rushing in my mind. Would that be the perfect place to start over? But then, I have nowhere to go. Anywhere would be better as long as I stay away from where I came from.

When I realized that Boyd will be waiting for me, I immediately consumed the soup he prepared for me. With every spoonful, warmth slowly spread through my body. A sad smile curved on my lips. The soup tasted simple and warm, as if it was the first kindness anyone had shown me after everything that had happened.

I felt so much better when I finished the soup and drank a glass of water. My body was energized and the body ache I was feeling slowly subsided.

While he was not in the room, I removed the bloodied dress from my body. I wanted to take a bath but I doubt I can do that here. I am sure I would have that chance later on.

I was about to wear the dress that Boyd had given me when something caught my attention. I froze for a moment. A strange golden mark shimmered on my skin.

"What is this?" I whispered, my eyes slowly widening in amazement.

It was pale and barely visible but I easily noticed it because it hadn't been here before.

I tried to see the details to recognize what could it be and I thought it resembled the crescent moon.

My breath slowed down and became shallow. I have never seen or heard about anything like this before and now, it suddenly appeared on my chest, just right above my heart.

My fingers lightly traced the glowing symbol and a small gasp escaped my mouth when the mark glowed for a split second with my touch.