His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 120: Taken (1)
My body ached from the restraints, silver chains burning into my skin as I struggled to move. A musty old potato sack scratched at my skin, concealing my nakedness from my recent and short-lived shift.
The damp cabin walls seemed to close in on me, the air heavy with the scent of decay and old wood. Every breath felt thick, weighted with the magick that had bound me. I was alone, but not entirely alone. Three figures lingered just beyond my reach, their faces blurred as though my mind could not fully comprehend their features.
The forest outside was dark, the only light coming from the flickering of a dying fire in the corner of the room. It cast eerie shadows on the walls, dancing and shifting like spectres in the night. The sound of leaves rustling and the distant calls of night creatures was muffled as if the forest itself had closed in around me, sealing me off from the world I knew.
I could feel the magick pressing down on me, its weight suffocating, the taste strong on my tongue. How did I know this?! I peered at the figures, squinting to try and see them properly.
"The human is awake," a lyrical voice said. It was familiar like I’d heard it before. I looked in their direction, standing by the window. They clicked their finger, and a small flame danced between them.
Was that the creature who attacked the palace before?
"Human?" Another one, seemingly shorter, her voice more high-pitched. "You said her name was Lli? I sense no normality about this creature."
"Hmm," the first one strode toward me, their legs long as they tilted my chin up to look at their blurred features. "Lli, that was it. That is what that bird called you."
I continue to stare back at them, almost entranced, even though I cannot see anything. They chuckle and drop my chin. "Not someone to cause this much fuss over." They wave their hand as they walk away. "I only reported her back to you, Caz, because of what she said."
My head swivels toward where another stands directly in front of the fire. The one he called ’Caz’. Their back is to me, but their hood is down, revealing long navy-black hair going past their shoulders. In the dim firelight, it almost seems to shimmer like mini silver stars twinkling back at me. They’re tall and lean.
A chuckle resounds back to me, and it feels like a gentle lullaby. My lips part to the sound that makes me still in awe.
"It didn’t take much effort to get to her. They must not understand what they have right in front of them." They speak, and I feel like I am in some sort of afterglow. I shake my head, blinking profusely to focus.
"She has not fallen under my charm." They chuckle again and turn then. My breath hitches. Unlike the others, he does not keep his face hidden.
Why would he? Nobody would believe me if I described their features. So sharp were his jaw and high cheekbones that I’m sure many would cut their finger on them. So smooth was his skin that many would not understand it almost glimmered with a soft silver hue. But those eyes...
So bright and sharp were his silver eyes that describing them as stars was an insult. He was an ancient being. His face was young and handsome beyond comprehensibility, but those eyes could not hide his wisdom and cruelty.
Then there were the prominent, pointed ears that I hadn’t seen on another before. Two black studs adorned both ears and a single dangling earring with a star on it.
Just by being in this cabin with magick thick in the air, I knew they were not Blood Wraiths. I was tied up on the damp floor before High Fae.
"She has not tried crawling to you, Caz." The shorter, high-pitched cloaked figure stated in amusement.
"She has a name," I say, sounding far more confident than I felt.
Another sighs to the left of me, seeming bored or annoyed by being here. Random flowers had grown around them, and another was growing to life in the palm of their hands. I stared in wonder, then shuddered as I felt their gaze fall on me.
The shorter fae leaned closer to me, tilting their head. "Lli... that is what Pyrrhus called you... But that isn’t your name... I’m certain Ciro called you Idalia. The Princess. You know you befriended my friend..." Unlike the others, this fae seemed almost normal.
Was it the height? Or the way they spoke?
"Friend?" My gaze narrowed on them as something clicked into place at the back of my mind. "You’re Asa."
The fae gasped and giggled with glee, clapping their hands. "That’s right! Ohhh, that little twerp. Wait til I find him-"
"Enough," Caz’s voice struck out like the power of lightning. Hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. It is undeniable who is in charge here.
Asa backed away instantly, seeming to almost hunch and lower their head. Were they a child? But I sensed a lot of power from them.
"Who are you?" I asked first, tilting my chin up to meet Caz’s eyes. It was hard to stare back at them, those eyes so striking and terrifying, like they could see through my soul.
Pyrrhus—I think that was what they called them— scoffed, flanking Caz’s side as Asa did his other. Caz observed me with a quiet intensity that I could feel even through the haze of my exhaustion. I hated it. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
It was as though he studied me like some strange creature. "My name is Cazimir," he says lyrically. His words washed over me like a sweet tune. I fought against whatever magick he was trying to use on me. I could taste it on my tongue.
"It is no magick," Cazimir says, blinking slowly with long thick eyelashes. "It is my charm."
I would have burst into laughter if not for the serious expression on his face. Everything they say would have to be taken at face value, I realise.We know nothing about the High Fae, and now four stand before me like proud Gods.
"This is Pyrrhus." He gestures at the cloaked figure I’d faced at the palace. Pyrrhus clicks his tongue and removes his hood. The spell falls away immediately. His blurred features sharpen into focus, and I blink at his striking looks.
Pale, moonlight skin, straight red hair past his shoulders, sharp angular features and smouldering orange, red and black flame-like eyes burned back at me. I could almost hear the fire crackling as I stared back at him. Red and gold metallic-like markings created patterns of ink across the side of his neck, dipping down to his chest and beyond the rags he wore.
He tilted his head and smirked. "I forgot how others viewed us," his angelic voice seemed almost out of place with his devilish features and cruel, smug smile.
"This is Asa," Cazimir continued, and I reluctantly looked away from the red-haired fae. It was more to do with the way his eyes seemed to burn into my skin. It was unsettling and uncomfortable. He looked at me like I was his new plaything.
Asa removed her hood, and the magick dropped, revealing a petite woman, her skin like that of a light greyish-blue, her midnight black hair short on the back and sides of her head and longer on the top, making her ears stand out more. Unlike the other two males, she did not adorn her pointed ears with earrings. They were bare.
With a small button nose, a mischievous smile and dark grey-green eyes, Asa wasn’t far beyond looking almost human if not for the shimmering green-blue skin at her hands that almost looked like scales. She was definitely cute-looking, but I could tell she used her looks to lure others to their deaths. There was nothing ’casual’ about how she acted; it was all a ploy to let your guard down.
"And that is Elwin," Cazimir gestured towards the cloaked figure, who was staying clear from everyone. Elwin does nothing. "Elwin..." Cazimir’s musical voice darkened, as did the room as the small candlelight flickered on a phantom wind.
Elwin didn’t say anything as she dropped her hood and spell. She looked at me in disgust, then returned to creating a flower chain to put atop the multiple flowers adorning her hair. From root to tip, Elwin’s hair faded from a golden hue to a dark green, curving at the bottom near her waist. She was elegant, cold-looking with moss-green eyes and pouty lips, her skin a glimmering bronze that sparkled a little like gold in the candlelight. It was dazzling.
I couldn’t stop staring, though she didn’t have the same effect as Cazimir; perhaps it was because she didn’t acknowledge my existence. All seemed to bear the same trait of pointed ears.
It was clear before and even more so now that I was before the High Fae. Dark and ancient power flowed through them; their cold and mischievous gazes fell on me like a weighted anchor. My heartbeat quickened, my throat tightening with a growing sense of dread.
"Why am I here?" I ask, pleased that I didn’t sound scared.
Pyrrhus clicked his tongue and looked out the window. "Do not play the fool. You know why. You can sense our growing or weakening magick." His fiery eyes fell on me again, and sweat started to bead down the back of my neck. "Magick lies within you, untapped. A Were with Fae Magick."
He makes a face like it is inconceivable.
