Lost

Chapter 25 ~ ☾☀

He guides me through the forest by hand, until eventually we make it to the other side– to the foot of the mountain. At some point during our journey, it began to rain. And the drops glistened on his bare abdomen; I watched intently as they fell down slowly into the unknown beneath his black jeans.

When we arrive at the foot of the mountain, he says, "it'll be faster if you hop on," and I watch as his skin grows a monstrous amount of hair, and he lets go of my hand just in time to fall onto all fours.

He kneels down, so I have an easier time climbing onto his back. Surprising, the fur is well kept– it's not mangled, and it's super soft. I nuzzle my face into his neck as I hold of for dear life while he takes off running up the steep mountain. I close my eyes and melt into him as my heart beats faster and faster and my mind goes blank of everything save the way his fur feels on my face and in my hands.

We make it to the top shortly, and he slows down. When he comes to a stop, he kneels down again for me to get off, and I do so hesitantly, as being so close to him just feels so right...

Once I'm standing again, he changes back. And turns toward me. He closes the distance between us, taking both of my hands in his, until my chest touches just below his, and looks deep into my eyes. Heat begins to rise to my face, and I feel a blush, but I can't take my eyes off of him... He breaks the silence, and I can smell the savory scent on his breath.

"There's so much to explain. But first, I must say that as long as I live, you'll be safe with me, I promise."

I look into his eyes, searching for what he's thinking, but all I see is the hard sincerity in his words. His stare is almost cold, but I feel so much warmth radiating from him that I'm almost sad when he backs away.

He turns toward a tent just beyond the homemade firepit I'm just now noticing and goes inside. When he returns, he brings a leather jacket with him, which he puts around my shoulders to keep me warm from the cold rain. I nod a quick thank you, before he continues talking.

"Let's start at the beginning... sit down," he notions toward a log on the ground.

•.✦.✧.✦.✧.•☾☀•.✦.✧.✦.✧.•

There were once Three Sisters, heirs to the central throne, intertwined by twisted fate. Together they lived hand in hand– one with the light of the sun, the next with that of the moon, and the youngest with the soul of the Florae– bringing pure harmony and joy to all the lands. As the years passed by, The Sisters grew hearted and strong, and throughout the kingdom they continued to shine. But in this time, a Shadow had also begun to arise to steal the light of the eldest sisters and consume all into the darkest of nights. On the day which he came, much was lost, as the two vanished without a single sound, leaving the last alone and the solution within the unknown...~

Serina reads from a page torn from a book. When she makes it to the end, she looks up at Kail.

"And it is said by the wisest man in all of Solunaria that the two sisters' light disappeared with them, beginning the dark ages. But then the third bore a child whose light shone so bright, she brought the sun back to the kingdoms. She is believed to have been blessed with the light of the sun, the spirit of Estella...

Her husband, found on the shore of Solunaria, was blessed with the spirit of Luna and the light of the moon. Together, they fused a princess, whose light was of both the spirit of Estella and Luna, the eldest sisters.

Kathryn and Theodore held off Shadow long enough for the princess to escape, but she is the only one who can truly defeat him.

The princess was lost, but Ezekiel, the wisest man in all of Solunaria, sent me to the human world, where it is believed that she resides... I had no idea why– until I met you... Serina... you are the lost princess, daughter of Queen Kathryn and King Theodore, and you are Solunaria's only hope of survival" Kail explains.

I'm at a loss of words. I don't know what to say, or what to think. I'm a princess? With some magical superpowers? I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry, but I know I can trust him– I mean, besides intuition telling me to, he's a wolf and a man... add that with all of the weird stuff I've seen, and I'll believe just about anything.

I look in Kail's eyes and see that this isn't some sick joke... His– or I guess my kingdom is in serious danger. And I'm the only one that can save it. I'm not sure how I can, but I want to help. Afterall, it is my birth-given duty. And who knows, maybe this princess thing will be fun.

I think back to all the times I've felt like someone's been keeping something from me, and now I know what it was. I'm not sure why Sebby, Liam, or mum– well I guess Val, as I'm not sure who she is anymore– never told me, but maybe it was best I didn't know the dangers until I was ready. I'm not sure that I'm ready now, but if this Shadow guy is really getting that powerful... I suppose it's time I start learning how to render my powers, too.

Ready to finally break the awkward silence between us as I try to process all that I've just learned, I ask, "So, what are my powers? I've seen Sebastian in action– he's some kind of grass bender, can I do that?"

Kail about chokes on the air as he begins laughing at me, he manages to get out a "no" before calming down and explaining to me what all of the Gifts are.

Kail tells me that he's not sure what mine are exactly, but with practice, they're sure to come out. And, with that, we begin training.