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  It jumbled my memory about what exactly happened in the forest. How did I lose my footing on the hill? “My memory is hazy.”

  “It seems those two friends of yours put up a good fight against Luna,” She leered slightly. “I’m afraid she became too excited and accidentally knocked into you while fending off the Dark Elf.” Her hand reached out for me. I became insecure and leaned away at first. She took her hand away and then tried to reach out again, so I understood that she wanted to examine me. So, I trusted her touch and let her check the cut on my head I soon experienced the pain for myself. “She sends her apologies. She commended your friends though. If you’re concerned, they’re still alive and well, but not without repercussions. Luna can be feisty in battle and can become quite violent.”

  “Who are you, may I ask?” I gazed at her pondering.

  She affectionately touched my cheek with her soft hands. “It has been a long time my child, since I’d last seen these beautiful eyes. I’m your mother.”

  My heart sunk deep and dead on the inside, and I turned away to not meet her gaze.

  “I know it confuses you about what’s going on and for that I do apologize.” She grasped my chin with her fingers and guided my face back to hers as if she wanted me to pay close attention to what she had to say. “For so many years not knowing who you are and why I wasn’t there to raise you. Of course, you'd assume I abandoned you to that family. Believe me when I say I didn’t want it to be this way. You are my only daughter and I will do anything to keep you alive as long as possible before your ascension.”

  “My ascension?” A thousand question raced all at once in my mind.

  “You are unlike any other being, Alphard. You’re a Harpy and my only heir to the throne.”

  Frigga had told me about Harpys. Beautiful, seductive women born to serve as tormentors by the decree of Hades. Dark-hearted and will do unspeakable acts under whom they serve. They were strong and feared by many. My mother’s title is The Dark Queen Celaeno. She’s the eldest of two other siblings chosen to turn into Harpys.

  It was all coming together in my mind about what I am, but I still didn’t understand. It also hurt, and I felt depressed from being taken away from my home and Frigga, giving me up so easily after being my foster mother for all this time. Now I didn’t know what had befallen me, being at the mercy of my real mother.

  “What did you mean by keeping me alive,” I asked in sadness, trying not to cry.

  “My sisters and their kin want the throne. To them you are in the way, so they want to end you… Or least try.”

  “So that means they have been trying to kill you too,” I said.

  “Yes, in a way. But I’ve made a few changes to make sure that never happens. The throne will always remain with me and my children. Not my sisters.”

  The window in my room had only a balcony viewing the ocean. The vast clear blue water extended far in the distance and a bright cloudless sky that appeared breath taking.

  Celaeno noticed me gazing at the ocean. “It’s beautiful isn’t it?” she commented. “It’s different from what you are used to in the cold northern mountains. You will become accustomed to the change. When you are better, I can have Yuna take you to the beach and show you around the island.”

  An Elven woman entered with long reddish -blonde hair and emerald green eyes. Her pointed ears were not as long as Alucard’s and her skin wasn’t as pale as a Dark Elf’s. She had color to her soft skin tone. Her pale green dress was laced with gold and had beaded embroidery along the seams. She was a unique and enchanting sight compared to how Frigga described them in her teachings. However, there was an ugly deep scar on her neck that caught my attention. She gave me a sneer for staring too long.

  “Yuna will be your handmaiden from now on,” my mother introduced her. “She will assist you with your needs and will be your guide.” My mother stood up from the bed. “I thought she would be perfect for you and sort of a treat. I’m sure you have noticed the scar on her neck. It’s a stab wound she received before I took her into my care. Her vocals were severed, so she has no ability to speak. Your gift will be a pleasant change, which I’m sure Yuna will be happy to be listened to, occasionally. But for now, I have an engagement to attend for the day.” My mother walked around the bed and to the arched door of the room, and her eyes met Yuna’s stern gaze. “Yuna make sure my daughter is taken care of and please make sure she doesn’t get hurt any further trying to escape from that bed.” Yuna bowed her head in obedience before my mother exited the room.

  Yuna once again took a glimpse at me in annoyance and walked to the table near the balcony with a few items that didn’t appear familiar. She poured red liquid from a jug which resembled a pitcher painted black with gold images, decorated around it of a Harpy in its bird form on the terracotta bowl. I watched her come towards me with the bowl in hand and she held the rim near my lips.

  “What is it?” I asked, but she had a blank stare. I leaned forward with my lips on the rim of the bowl and she tipped the sweet liquid in my mouth. I coughed realizing it tasted fermented like the ale Frigga brewed for solstices.

  “It tastes different, but it’s familiar,” I said aloud.

  I heard a faint voice. “It’s wine.” I glanced at her, but she didn’t speak another word.

  “I like it. Thank you.” I moved out of the bed.

  “No-no-no-no no.” I listened to the panic in her voice.

  “So now you speak.” I sat back in my current position.

  “Please don’t move too much, milady,” Yuna spoke with her mind, sounding concerned. “I don’t want you to push yourself when you’re still healing.”

  I touched my cut again. “It hurts.”

  Yuna sat next to me to check the cut. “It’s just badly bruised.” It was intriguing to see Yuna talk without moving her lips as her sweet voice entered my mind. “You have other injuries you’re healing from as well I can sense.” Yuna noticed my mood wasn’t well.

  “I think it’s just my heart that needs healing.”

  It was lonely even with Yuna in the room to aid and look after me. This castle and this island were unknown, and I knew no one. Not even the woman who called herself my mother.

  CHAPTER V

  Beauty of the Sea

  THE DAYS HAVE GONE BY while healing from my fall. Yuna stayed by my side most of the time, making sure I wasn’t alone, since the injuries on my back had left me bedridden and in pain. My mother, the Queen, gave strict orders for me to not overexert myself until they considered me strong enough to go about without help.

  Some nights were too much to deal with on my own. Nightmares of my fall and being away from my brothers and Frigga plagued any good dream that invoked in my mind. I yearned to have comfort in the tower. Yuna would sleep next to me on the rough nights. She’d held me in a loving cuddle when I would awake, sweating and weeping tears that soaked my pillow.

  Yuna was a gentle soul even though her past had many tragic tales in the times we spoke. Her lost voice made it troublesome to associate with others on the island, so she was just as lonesome as I was. My ability for hearing gave her that sense of connection once again in the castle by using her inner speech to chat about her history. It wasn’t pleasant for her to share her past, but I understood sometimes it's challenging to express about one's personal life with just any ear, so I appreciated any occasion of connection we made during our time together.

  She was one of the Woodland Elves, born in the eastern forests far different from the Dark Elves of the north. They had based their livelihood on spring and summer, known as defenders of all woodland creatures; nurturers of nature. However, one night her underground village underwent a vicious raid where many of her people and members of her family became enslaved into servitude. Since she had the gift to call upon mythical creatures, her owner made certain she would never summon a single creature again to aid her. The scar on her neck was her lifelong punishment for trying to use her gift. The Dark Queen, on a contrac
t, executed the owner. She saved Yuna from her servitude and many others who were casualties of their realm and brought them here to the island known as Sanctuary. I never knew Harpys had a caring nature for victims or indeed had the capability to be merciful.

  My mother’s kingdom consisted predominantly of women who worked to serve her in gratitude. In return, they had freedom and didn't have to dread the outside worlds. The isle had a blend of Water Nymphs, elegant, fair creatures that flourished in absolute joy by dancing in the streams naked under the moonlit sky. Their Auras would glow blue in the night as Yuna escorted me around the castle grounds when I could move without staggering like a klutz.

  We watched them perform a water ritual of singing with blissful tones; twirling and making the water glow hints of blue and green. They splashed sprinkles of water in the air that appeared like fluorescent stars dropping from the sky and onto their fair skin. I remembered it as a beautiful sight that gave me more comforting dreams, just as sweet as the Nymphs we watched dancing in the night.

  Just thinking about how beautiful Fae were. The desolate mountains didn’t have as much to look at like here on the island. Then I realized I had experienced no other life while being in isolation with my family. This was an opportunity to be somewhere quite different from home. That’s when it sank in. Sanctuary was my new home.

  It gave me immense joy learning about the Fairies that fluttered into my balcony in the evenings. They glowed neon and all the colors of the rainbow in the blackness, shimmering Fairy dust on the shore below, sparkling like fireflies. I relished the view from the tower and the harmony of the ocean striking the rocks near the cove. The essence and the warmth of the island mist was a dream.

  There was nothing I disliked about this new home. However, as days went by, I missed my family, Alucard and Edon. My dear friends would know how to keep my smile radiating in the gloomiest of moments.

  I connected with Yuna better and depended on her more. She checked on my back from time to time; her tender hands gently rubbing my skin. The warmth was comforting until an unexpected sensation swept over my mood. The blood in my body pumped unusually. A pulse throbbed in the center of my abdomen making me hunch forward; my muscles stiffen.

  “Are you ok, milady?” she asked regarding my reaction.

  I clutched my gut, suffering as if a ball of electricity was swirling radically, provoking my body to convulse. I experienced a craving I couldn’t describe. It was a slight hunger and my skin appeared oily. My heart pounded hard; my body suffered a minor soreness.

  Suddenly, Yuna’s lips was fondling my collar. Her round bottom lip kissed behind my ear; I felt the fever of her breath on my skin. I watched her in the reflection of the mirror as she continued to seduce me. Her eyes had eagerness and passion as if it sealed her into a trance; fixated on my body as her arms folded around me, tugging me tighter to her breast where it pressed against my exposed back.

  I focused on my eyes in the mirror and they gleamed gold in one eye and the other like an emerald green; my skin shifted like a wave into a snake-like scale. I rose at the sight and yanked away from Yuna. I leaned on the counter with my palm over my eyes breathing heavily.

  Yuna stepped away regaining her consciousness. “I apologize, milady.” She concealed her lips with both hands. “I don’t know what came over me.”

  “I don’t know what happened either.” I stood hunched over, grasping my still throbbing abdomen. “Something came over me.”

  “The odor.” Yuna stepped back significantly further from me.

  “What?” I spun around to meet her face, but she had already exited the chamber before I had a chance to ask.

  It was peculiar about what took place. My eyes and skin appeared normal now as if it never happened and the spasms ceased. I continued looking at myself in the mirror for any minor difference, but nothing. I was completely myself again.

  After that day, Yuna kept her distance from me. I didn’t investigate why or urge her to clarify what she meant about the odor. She dropped her eyes out of shame even though I didn’t consider it was her fault. I wouldn’t dare to tell my mother about our lewd encounter because I didn’t know the rules or whether it was proper for Yuna to do such sensual acts with me.

  I sensed a tinge of worry in her when she was near. She would follow two body lengths away as we strolled down the stone staircase built into the cliff of the palace. A monumental stone arch that had an entrance that led to the separate side of the coast blocked the secluded beach.

  My strength came back, meaning my body had entirely recuperated from my injuries. We hiked along the shore and I had better composure to my stride in the short black tunic someone sewed to fit my slim body. The material was thin, and the fabric breathed better in the sweltering weather than my old wool clothing that kept me warm in the cold.

  The intensity of the sunlight baked my bare back and my feet pushed against the sand grains as I stepped into the sea water. The waves washed up onto my ankles, including a sense of serenity with the coolness of the water. This was the first occasion I had such a thought of relief since I arrived and soon enough I had a smile once again.

  In that enchanted hour, it shortly became ruined by someone familiar, shuffling towards us on the waterfront. I peeked back to meet my mother’s hound, Luna, approach me. Her smirk was as wide as a crescent moon, glaring at me with her venomous glowing red eyes.

  “Your mother would like to speak with you.” Luna’s wide grin quickly became stern that sent chills down my spine. Her eyes dimmed down to a normal dark gray and was less intimidating.

  Something about her eyes seemed familiar.

  “You and I haven’t been formally introduced.” I gave her a blank stare; however, the anger that raged in my veins couldn’t stop the images that raced through my mind, envisioning the battle she had with my friends. It left me a bitter taste in my mouth, speaking to her formally. “Luna is it?”

  “I see you’ve healed well. I’m glad.” She sneered deviously. “I commend you for being so bold trying to escape. You have speed, I’ll give you that.” She approached much closer to where she was a whisper away. “At least you will not be in so much of a disadvantage when I break you.”

  My blood boiled as she turned away and made her way back up the beach. I noticed a brand mark on her left shoulder blade of the crossed daggers, which was the same symbol for Edon’s pack. My eyes widened when the description he once told me fit the woman that threatened me. Luna was his mother. I glanced at Yuna in the distance as she turned away as well to follow her.

  I had a sickness appear in the pit of my stomach I was on my own and my mother’s unknown intention for me gave me no comfort. What will become of me here on this island? Darkness crept into my heart; leaving me vulnerable as the feeling of tranquility shortly faded along with my hope.

  In the hall of the castle, my mother sat on her black throne carved from wood with relics of faces and twisted arm rests with black suede fabric, neatly sewn over the cushions she rested on. On the top of the backrest, wings were painted black and red that represented a Harpy. My mother’s arm relaxed over the arm rest with her legs crossed in her long black silk dress draped down to the white marble floor. Her attire was one piece held together on her body with thin strings of fabric that were too loose to keep her large filled breasts in place as she slouched to the side, putting more weight on the armrest. Her cleavage was distracting me as one breast fell out, exposing her navel. I down cast my eyes, trying not to stare.

  My mothers’ hazel eyes dazed off in concern to look at Luna, standing to the side, not far away from us. I caught a glance of Luna, her eyes leering at my mother’s exposed skin, but kept a straight face as my mother nodded her head to not look and then made eye contact with me.

  “How are you feeling my dear?” She asked even though her eyes were cold. “Your injuries, have they healed?”

  “Yes, mother.”

  Her eyes lit slightly when I acknowledge her for the first time a
s that title. Yet she fell back into composure.

  “I’m glad.” She stood up and took a better look at me. Her hand reached to touch where the cut on my head was. Then she circled around me, touching my back and shoulders as if she was searching for any signs that the injuries had not fully healed. Her intentions for the inspection puzzled me. I wasn’t naïve based on Luna’s threats on the beach.

  “Superb,” my mother said as she finished. “Luna said you are strong.” She sat back on her throne.

  “Thank you, mother.” I bowed my head to show that I was grateful. “For taking care of me.” I looked at the floor. “You wanted to speak with me.”

  “You and I haven’t seen each other much. I apologize.” She seemed more agitated than usual. “It seems my sisters refuse to give up the underling that tricked you into the lake.

  “How do you know about that,” I asked, keeping my eyes downcast.

  “I have my sources. As much as you might think I’ve always kept my eye on you from afar. I know about your life every step of the way from when you were a child till now.”

  I made eye contact with her; trying to figure out if I should either act surprised or touched. My mind wandered, and it made me think Luna knows as much or even more by the frown on her face as she intimidated me with her eyes like she wanted to be violent towards me. If I wasn’t my mother’s daughter, I imagined myself being crushed to the floor by her.

  “As you know it hasn’t been easy keeping you concealed from my sisters’. We are not a family that take too kindly to weakness. They train their daughters to kill at an early age. And I’m afraid in your current state you wouldn’t last long in our ways.” She sighed with doubt. “You are strong, but not strong enough to survive your family.” She reached out her hand. “Come kneel here.” I knelt before her knees as she combed her fingers through my wavy hair. “You are so beautiful. I want you to succeed me one day and have a daughter of your own.” She cuddled my cheek with her warm hands. “To feel this oneness looking upon you, sweet child. Seeing myself locked inside every fiber of your soul with a heart I lost so long ago. You even have my eyes. It’s astonishing how much I longed to have you here beside me again.” She gazed deeper into my eyes with empty despair. “Do you know how much I wished for this? No mother should be separated from their daughter. Even though my heart became blackened, I wish I felt love for you. It hasn’t been easy. And it won’t be easy for you.” She took her hand away. “Luna will be training you from now on. You will learn to defend yourself no matter the pain you endure. I will not have my sisters take you from me so easily.”