Lunaise Chronicles: Ch. 2

Chapter 2: The Madman.

After a while, I felt myself begin to regain consciousness, at least enough to become aware that though I was still soaking wet from the rain, I could no longer feel the raindrops collide with my exposed skin. I listened, hearing the rainwater drip to the ground beneath me, along with a single pair of footsteps on a stone floor, yet, they weren't under me. Could I be hovering? My ears twitched.

"Sir, she's waking up," came the voice of what sounded to be a young man, his voice was to the side, coming not far from my head.

"You think I don't know that, drone?" sounded a voice above me. It sounded unnatural; deep but smooth. Had I been more conscious I might've jumped at its suddenness. Yet, I couldn't feel anyone there. Attempting to focus, I became vaguely aware of the arms that held me, and the body I was held against. His hands were cold. I shifted.

"Sir?"

There was a slight growl of annoyance above me, and again I felt the stabbing pain through my head, rendering me unconscious once again.
___

Shei and I made our way up the stone staircase inside our castle. We were 5 once again and I had just returned from one of Emiyot's lessons. I followed a couple steps behind, listening to her tales of all that had happened at home while I was out. Apparently our birth parents were visiting!

Reaching the second floor Shei continued as we walked past bedroom doors, one door only partially open, hushed voices coming from within. I continued behind my sister until I was past the door then stopped, my back against the wall. The voices continued, it seemed they'd figured we had just kept walking; as I had hoped. I looked down the hall; Shei was still walking, it seemed I had given her the slip too, even if I didn't mean to, I was just curious.

Turning my attention to the one inch gap between the wooden door and the stone door-frame I listened. It sounded like Mommy Lena and Aunt Tamaya, our step mother. Mum sounded worried, Tamaya; reassuring. What had Mum so upset? I listened harder.

"But why them? Why my baby girls? I almost lost one of them already, now I have to live with knowing that they'll be hunted by everyone!" was she crying? I inched closer to the opening and risked a peek inside. They looked alike except Mum had elven ears, while Tamaya's ears were feline like my sister and I. Their skin was a smooth olive shade, their hair long and brown; almost black. I had always admired them, they were like the very essence of beauty.

"That's why Dad put the species and appearance altering spells on them.  Lena, they'll be fine." She spoke softly, her hand rubbing gently over her sister's back.

Had Tamaya had this 'species altering' spell placed on her too? It would explain why she had feline ears and tail too. Right?

"You don't know that! I'm risking their lives just visiting." Her voice dropped "But I had to; it's been 4 and half years now."

I moved away from the door, back to the wall. What were they talking about?

"Lu?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin, the fur bristling on my tail as I heard my name, my eyes snapped around to see Shei looking confused. "Oh." I faked like I'd just zoned out "What happened?"

She rolled her eyes and took my hand, leading me on down the hallway, "Heh, nothing really. How was class?"
___

My eyes fluttered open as the dream faded. The room was dark and I had been laid on something soft; a bed it seemed, covered in warm pelts. Sitting up, I looked around, squinting a little as my eyes adjusted. Why weren't there any windows? Or at least a candle would be nice. I couldn't tell the exact color of my surroundings, but from what I could tell the walls were stone, and there was a wooden dresser with what appeared to be a polished metal mirror against the wall to the left of the bed, an armoire on the right. Straight ahead of me sat a table, a chair on either side, chairs facing in my direction instead of towards their companion. I shivered. It was cold in this dark place. Where was I?

I swung my legs around and stood on the cold stone floor, pulling one of the fur blankets off the bed and wrapping it around myself to hide from the cold air around me. Many questions floated through my mind as I started for the door; had everything been just a horrid nightmare? Where had I been relocated to? If it wasn't a nightmare, where were Emi and Shei? If everything had been real, where was I? Who brought me here? Why? I reached for the handle of the large wooden door feeling rattled and numb, a good thing as it stopped me from getting my hopes up.

The hinges creaked loudly as I pulled the door open, and seeing the man who had appeared before me in the forest, I froze, the connection between my mind and body seeming to cease entirely except to allow it to shake in fear. His expression was stern, almost angry and his eyes seemed to show little emotion if any.

"Oh! She's awake again?" It sounded like the young man I had heard as I was being carried before.

My eyes were locked on the one in front of me; he neither answered nor reacted to the other. He just stood there, glaring down at me for what seemed like forever. I could feel my trembling pulse through every part of my body, my fingertips throbbing along with it.

Then, in an instant his lips split into a wicked grin, unusually long canines glistening "Come with me." He hissed eagerly before lowering his upper body in an almost bow to offer me a welcoming hand.

I hesitated, staring cautiously into his eyes.

"I have something to show you, Kitten. Something marvelous!" he added.

I looked to the other man, hoping his eyes would give something away. He looked jealous. Figuring it to be a good thing, I gave in to the dark one's temptation and nodded, placing my hand in his.

"Delightful." He muttered under his breath before looking to the other who had been with him, "You are excused. I will summon you when you are needed." His voice was low and commanding now. The other nodded to him and backed away a couple steps before turning to leave, giving me a hateful glance before rounding a corner. "Come," came the dark one's authoritative tone as he turned, leading me down the dark halls.

I looked up at him with my glowing eyes. I didn't know what to do anymore. It was like my life was out of control and I was just along for the ride. I followed him.

The halls seemed to all look the same in the dark. I wondered if he was leading me in circles to throw me off. What was this thing he was going to show me? I felt anxious, curiosity gnawing at my conscious thoughts. But I remained silent. I couldn't bring myself to speak even if I wanted to.

Suddenly, I was jerked from my thoughts and brought back to reality as he shoved me into a room, securing the deadbolt behind us; a slight squeak of surprise sounding in my throat as the unexpected movement caused me to trip and fall to the hard ground. I was sure I had scraped my knees as well as the palms of my hands. "Ow." I whimpered lightly as I pushed myself up to sit on my heels and licked at my palms where they stung, a feline habit, the small wound glowed a faint white in the dark, then disappeared.

I heard a light chuckle from the dark one as he stepped around me, then what sounded like stone scraping stone followed by flickering light flooding the very empty room. I looked up to see a small fireplace opposite the door I had fallen through, and to the left was a small pile of poorly stuffed feather pillows. The room was small. My left hand reached out to test the fabric of the closest pillow; it was itchy.

The dark one stepped in front of me, pulling my attention back to him. My eyes trailed uneasily upwards; stopping at his eyes. "Y-yes?" I questioned softly, crawling back a couple steps and sitting with my back against the door, legs crossed while my tail curled around my left side.

He knelt in front of me, an elbow resting on his upright, left knee as he glared sternly into my eyes "Enchantress."

My eyebrow rose.

"Your powers will give us victory." He snarled in dark excitement, taking my slight reaction as a yes to his own curiosity "We will wipe them out!"

My ears drooped. I didn't like the sounds of that. "B-but I-"

"Silence!" He commanded.

My voice was once again caught in my throat.

His voice was quiet again as he went on "Our bite kills your kind." He raised his right hand to give a light tug on my left ear, fear once again flooding into me "but these," he tugged my ear once again before gently brushing the middle of his index finger to the skin just under my eyes "These aren't normal for your kind." He smirked, narrowing his eyes "Which means your appearance has been altered somehow; maybe some other things as well."

My eyes shone in cautious curiosity.

"It's your eyes especially," His eyes turned red and his grin broadened "That make me willing to risk your life to make you one of us and give us the upper hand."

My mind flooded with horror. I had to get out of here.