The True Luna's Kiss

Chapter 5

Sirona awoke as a needle was pressed into her skin. She groaned, waiting for the poison to course it way through her body.

But it didn't come.

She sighed internally, realising they weren't injecting her, just taking blood. It had become a routine, as much as the wolfsbane had. They took vials of blood frequently, but never said why. She had thought it was to measure the levels of poison in her, to increase the dose if necessary. But it didn't always come with that. It had to be for another reason.

The nurse finished, packing away her things and she heard the clatter of a tray on the table. Breakfast had been served. But Sirona didn't move, not until she heard the slam of the door and the click in the lock. Once there was the familiar sound, indicating her solitude once more, she rose from the bed. Stretching her limbs she tested her mind link.

"Briar?"

"I'm still here Sirona," Briar's voice came through, softly. Sirona sighed. She wasn't entirely alone.

Breakfast today seemed to be a special treat - bacon and eggs, with a softer piece of bread and a mug of tea. A luxury. Sirona ate quickly, glancing at the door. She was worried a guard would appear and realise the mistake. But no one did. Food finished, Sirona clutched the warm tea with both hands and moved back towards her bed. She would savour this warmth for as long as she could. Leaning her head back against the wall, Sirona just breathed. Listening and feeling everything. Trying to clear her mind. She did this meditation every day, trying to find some sort of inner peace. It was all she could do in the cell she was in. There was nothing else. No books or entertainment. Nothing she could do to pass the time. With only a few exceptions. Meditation, basic exercise and one other thing. She had discovered it years ago when she was much younger and it had helped keep her mind occupied for a few hours each day. Sirona finished the last of her tea and moved across the room, settling herself on the floor near the light. She started to twist her hands, forming shapes with their shadows. Her shadow puppetry was a welcome distravtion as she wove them into a story for her and Briar.

"This is a dragon," She started the story for her wolf, who was listening and watching intently. Sirona flared her fingers out to make the wings, the thumb becoming the tail and curling her little finger in the head. "He flies over the village and watches. The villagers are afraid of him, they run in fear." Sirona moved her hands, each finger becoming a villager running away. She moved her hands back to the dragon form. "The dragon doesn't know why, he has never burned any of the villagers or their homes. He just wants to fly free."

Briar gave a small whine. All of Sirona's stories had this theme. A creature misunderstood and mistreated for their power. A tale of the ignorance and fear from others. Each story was her story, each creature was her. Every element hurt to relive and have acted out. But Sirona didn't know anything else, she had no experience of any other life. Just this one, where she was trapped and abused for her power. Briar knew Sirona had a soft heart. She would have healed anyone who asked her to. They didn't need to treat her this way. They were acting out of fear and ignorance. This was easier for them, they could forget about her and only remember when she was needed. Briar shook her head, her soft chestnut fur rippling as she did. She lay her head onto her paws and turned her attention back to Sirona's story.

"The dragon returns to his mountain home, a cave up high on the top peak." Sirona formed a mountain with her hands. "He doesn't understand why the people fear him. He has never threatened them or hurt anyone." Briar let out a soft growl. Even in her thoughts she could sense Sirona's hurt pouring out at the story. "They don't realise he is here to help them. When they had no rain for weeks, he flew and brought in the rain clouds with his mighty wings." Sirona created a cloud with one fist, and flapped the fingers on her other hand to show the dragon moving the clouds. "When the children get sick, he leaves gifts of healing on their doorstep." She used her hands to show the dragon swooping down to a house. "But they still run from him, they still fear him."

Sirona dropped her hands onto her lap, the shadows disappearing. Silent tears fell down her cheeks, making her glisten in the subdued light. She made no move to wipe them away, instead she just let them flow.

"Why am I here?" Sirona asked her wolf, feeling the despair rise up from her stomach into her throat. "Why do they keep me like this? I'm no threat, I could help so many people. Why do they keep me caged up like a wild animal?"

Briar could offer no explanation, she just whimpered softly, trying to comfort her human half. In all the years, all the souls that Briar had been linked with, she had never met as beautiful a soul as Sirona's. She was selfless to a fault. Willing to heal those who had imprisoned her, all for the desire of a better life. Just a small change, anything to help her get through the days would be better than this. But there was no way of even asking for it. Sirona hadn't used her voice in years, Briar wasn't even sure she had a voice anymore. Just the one within her head. It left her silent and alone. Briar whimpered again at the thought. Sirona would never get out of this cell, this life.

She couldn't even ask for help.