Chapter 9
“No matter how hard you try, it’s always useless,” Marina said, her voice coated with sweet poison. “Whatever I want, Mom, Dad even Thorne–will hand it to me.”
“This kind of privilege,” she smiled cruelly, “you’ve never tasted, have you, sister?”
Selene narrowed her eyes, her expression unshaken.
Marina leaned closer, her tone darkening “I wonder if you’ll even be alive to see me take the stage after the Rite.”
In her eyes gleamed the certainty of someone who knew everything. Every hidden truth. Every silent plan.
Selene’s voice was cool as ice. “Even if you step on that stage, with your lack of talent, it’ll be nothing but a joke.”
Thes
smugness in Marina’s face twisted. She glanced around to make sure they were alone, then dropped all pretense.
“Instead of worrying about me, you should be worrying about your dear friend,” she whispered. “I heard she’s in quite a bit of trouble.”
Selene stiffened. “What do you meani
Marina feigned innocence, “You didn’t know? she confronted me last week so tiresome. I merely mentioned to dad that she was meddling with forbidden rune cloth rituals. You know how strict the Temple is about soul craft laws.”
Her smile sharpened.
“With one word, dad sent enforcers. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s already detained.”
“You’re insane,” Selene snapped, her voice trembling as she raised her hand and struck Marina across the face. “Why her? Why hurt her?”
Marina only laughed, rubbing her cheek. “Because you care about her. And there’s nothing else left in your world I haven’t already ruined ”
Before Selene could lift her hand again, she was shoved backward–hard
Thome stormed into the hallway, placing himself protectively between Marina and Selene.
“What is wrong with you?” he roared “Why are you always hurting her?”
Marina instantly dissolved into tears. “Please don’t blame her, Thorne I said something insensitive and upset her. She just needs to let out her frustration on me.”
She began to wheeze theatrically, clutching her chest in false agony.
Thorne’s face turned grave.
“Selene, have you completely lost your mind?” he snapped. “She’s fragile how dare you stress her like this!”
Selene didn’t answer. She turned, desperately reaching for the Moonstone amulet hanging from her belt. If she could just send a whisper to Lydia….
But Thorne slapped the crystal out of her hand. It hit the floor and cracked in two, light fading from its surface.
“You’re still thinking about that, even now?” he growled. “She can’t handle any more distress!”
Before Selene could protest, Thome seized her by the wrist.
“She can’t wait any longer. The Ritual must begin now.
“No–please–just let me send one message. Just one,” Selene begged, trying to wrench herself free. “I’m not going to run. I just- please!”
He didn’t listen. Hands pressed her down. Her wrists were bound.
Chapter 9
“Begin the Anesthetic Draught,” Thorne ordered.
Cold liquid ran into her veins.
Her vision blurred. The world grew quiet.
Selene’s last sight was of Thorne, his expression unreadable.
“I hate you,” she whispered, tears streaking down her cheeks.
Darkness fell.
Her soul drifted upward, rising like mist above the altar. The pain of her body faded, replaced by something colder–sharper.
Then came the light.
A silver path opened in the stars.
She was no longer in the hall of rites, nor among the living.
Ishe had entered Lunaris–the sacred realm of the Moon.
There, standing tall above a lake, was Selara, the Moon Goddess.
“You were never meant to carry all this,” Selara said, her voice as soft as snowfall, yet older than time.
“I did as I was told,” Selene whispered. “1 gave everything.”
“And still they would have taken more.”
H
The goddess stepped closer, reaching out to touch the fractured mark on Selene’s chest.
“You gave your soul once. I shall give it back. In a new vessel. With new purpose.”
“Will I remember?” Selene asked.
Selara’s eyes gleamed like twin moons. “Only what you need. The rest will come… when you are ready.”
Light enveloped her.
Selene’s soul fell like a star, returning to earth.
Her second life had begun.
Chapter 9
