stolen moon light

chapter 10 -The Queen's Reach

Arin was still falling.

Darkness wrapped around her like thick smoke. Her body felt heavy, yet light at the same time, like she was floating inside a nightmare. The air was cold. Not the cold of the forest—but the cold of a place where warmth had never existed.

Slowly, her feet touched solid ground.

She opened her eyes.

She was no longer in the forest.

She stood inside a huge black hall made of moving shadows. The walls shifted like living things. Above her, there was no sky—only swirling dark clouds glowing faintly with silver lines, like broken moonlight.

Her heart beat loudly in her ears.

“Where… am I?” she whispered.

A slow clap echoed.

“You are in my realm.”

The voice was calm, deep, and powerful. It came from everywhere at once.

Arin turned.

At the far end of the hall sat a tall throne made of black crystal. On it sat a woman—beautiful and terrifying. Her long hair flowed like liquid night. Her eyes glowed silver, just like Arin’s moonlight.

The Queen.

“So… you are the girl who carries what belongs to me,” the Queen said, her lips curving into a small smile.

Arin stepped back. Her hands glowed softly, her moonlight reacting to danger.

“I didn’t steal anything,” Arin said, though her voice shook. “You took it from me first.”

The Queen stood. With each step she took, the floor rippled.

“I took what was mine,” she said calmly. “Your power was never meant for a weak human heart.”

Arin clenched her fists. “It is mine. I can feel it. The moonlight… it listens to me.”

The Queen laughed softly. “Yes. That is the problem.”

With one slow wave of her hand, shadows rose from the floor, twisting around Arin’s legs. Arin cried out as they tried to pull her down.

“No!” she shouted.

Silver light burst from her hands, burning the shadows away. The hall shook as her power flared.

The Queen’s eyes gleamed. “Beautiful… just as powerful as I remember.”

Arin’s chest burned. “Let me go! I will never serve you!”

The Queen stepped closer. “Serve me? No, child. I want to take you back.”

Suddenly Arin felt it — something pulling inside her chest, like invisible hands reaching for her moonlight.

She screamed as her light flickered.

“No! Stop!”

The Queen’s power was stronger here, in her own realm. Arin fell to her knees, clutching her chest, struggling to hold her light.

“Kael…” she whispered.

And then—she felt him.

Not his body. Not his voice.

But his presence.

Strong. Warm. Steady.

Her moonlight responded.

Arin gasped as silver energy exploded outward, pushing the Queen’s power back.

The Queen staggered, shocked.

“What…?” she hissed.

Arin stood slowly, glowing brighter than ever. “I am not alone.”

The Queen’s smile faded. “So the human warrior still binds you…”

She raised her hand.

Dark energy surged toward Arin like a tidal wave.

Arin lifted her hands to fight back—

But suddenly, chains of shadow wrapped around her arms and legs, locking her in place.

The Queen walked toward her slowly.

“You cannot run anymore, Moonchild,” she said softly. “Your power… and your heart… will both be mine.”

Arin struggled, her light flickering wildly.

And in the distance, a voice called out—

“ARIN!”

Kael.

Her heart leapt.

But the shadows tightened.

And the Queen reached for her chest.