Lunar Heart, Shadow Bound ✓ [when the moon lies]

Ch.32.2: Bound and Taken

Edited: Jun, 26, 2020

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Pinti leaned against the bars. Xohr was coming, they were down in this dungeon, she was shackled and certain Daero was, too.

"Pinti, are you there?" Daero's called.

"Yeah."

"They sure underestimated me," he said in a sarcastic tone. "I have an idea."

There was a pause. Pinti waited. She heard the bars rattle and when she looked out from her side, she glimpsed Daero's arm sticking out, waving around.

"I can feel the magick of this place," he said. "It's going to take a while. You trust me?"

"Of course," she called out and heard a trill of joy. A smile found its way on her lips. She knew if Daero had an idea, it was going to get them out of here.

Time stretched on. Despite that she would be patient, she couldn't help but worry. When was Xohr coming? Would she and Daero escape in time for them to get to the scepter before Edglings? And without Xohr, how were they going to get to the scepter?

Pawsteps sounded outside the door. Pinti jolted upright. The door banged open, but there was no one there.

"Heizak, just like Orvineau's disappearing act!" she muttered.

Xohr's scent wafted into her cell. His face appeared in front of her. With a squeak she leapt back as he rippled into existence.

"Pinti? What's going on?" Daero called in hesitance.

Xohr cracked a smile as he set foot on the floor. With a gesture he made her stand, and her arms were bound to her sides again.

"It's Xohr!" Pinti yelled.

"I am ready for you, Pinti Segnoshua," Xohr said with a sneer.

"Get away from her!" Daero shouted, but Xohr didn't even twitch his ears in the direction.

He gestured at the ceiling. It began to melt away like candle wax to reveal a large full moon high up above despite they were underground. As he smiled, he raised his arm to point to the moon.

"The Lunar Goddess, once upon a time, bestowed upon Kathula the magick of the moon. But you have no need for it anymore," He brushed her bangs away, "for you will die here with me. Forget the scepter. Let us traverse the path we are meant to. Let us help Kathula become extinct."

"You have to stop this!" she said, knowing he wouldn't listen. But what else could she do but scream at him and struggled against the invisible restraints?

"But the Lunar Goddess has said Kathula will die, so they shall. We have held on for long enough. Good thing Edglings attacked as it has made my job easier."

Pinti was shocked. Speechless. He basically said the Massacre was good. That Pinti's family was brutally murdered was a good thing. She just couldn't understand him. He was Kathula.

"How could you say such things?" she whispered. The large white-blue moon Ikyliell, or the Lunar Goddess, filled the sky as the ceiling opened more. Dark spots were craters, and brightest spots she knew reflected the sun the most. White-blue light flowed into the dungeon.

Unlike sunlight though, moonlight had no warmth. It was just a lie pretending to be the sun of the night. Pinti didn't want to believe that a scoundrel of a goddess could be up there now. What kind of goddess let Kathula, perish? Was she supposed to protect Kathula? What kind of goddess lied to your face?

The moonlight pooled on the floor. Xohr held his arms wide open. When he spoke, his deep voice sounded hollow to her ears. He opened one eye with a smirk, "The Lunar Goddess has foretold the fate of Kathula since before I was born. She is much more than we can ever even begin to comprehend. So, what she says is set in stone."