"The moon is red. This is not a good sign." She said to herself as she stood up immediately. She was sweating and panting, maybe from her dream. Afar, she sighted someone running towards the field. As the person ran closer, she recognized him immediately.
"Aric? Is that you?" She called as she began coming closer. "Why are you running? Where's Kael? Why is...."
Aric reached where she was standing and stood, fuming. "It's you! You're the cause. You said you brought peace but instead you cursed our land!"
"What?..."
"Do you see how bloody the moon is? It means someone is going to die tonight. It means a bad thing has occurred. And I think it's you! You're the cause!"
Luna staggered back in shock. "Where... where's Kael? Please."
Aric chuckled devilishly. "Oh you mean my brother whom you bewitched? That's the point!," he raged on. "I don't know! I don't know where my brother is! But I'm sure if you listen a little more carefully, you can hear everyone panicking."
Luna took a deep breath and shut her eyes, trying to focus. He was right. She could hear shouts and cries. The people were really in a very loud panic.
Aric gazed at her in confusion. "What're you doing..."
"Shh... I'm trying to hear." Luna hushed and pushed her focus. Then she heard a cry. "We've been cursed! That lady that came had cursed us!" It was a female voice. "Mama, are we going to die?" She heard a child ask in fear. Another cried so loud. There were noises of things scattering and breaking. She shook her head as the fear gripped her more, staggering again.
"I need to find Kael. He might be in danger. I need to find Kael." She said as she tried to run, her eyes reflecting terror and shock. Aric held her arm immediately.
"If you go out there like this, they might kill you. Everybody's looking for you already. Don't be stupid!" Then he removed his coat and handed it to her. "Here, wear this and cover your hair. No one will know."
Luna looked at him and took the coat. She wore it immediately and gazed at Aric for one more time. "Thank you." And she sped off like a ghost, her feet never touching the ground. Aric was amazed.
"What the hell..."
****
"Father!" Selene called as she ran into their father's chambers. She knelt immediately with her head bowed low. "Father, I can't find Luna."
The king looked at her with contempt and confusion. "What do you mean by you can't find Luna? Well, go look for her. I need her here, I want to talk to her."
Selene shook her head bitterly. "She's no more in the forest father," The king sat up in shock immediately. "I think she already fled with that young lad."
"Selene? What're you talking about? Where's your sister and what lad?!" His voice was immediately stern and raging.
Selene trembled before him. "I'm sorry father. I should've kept an eye on her. She has been meeting with an Umbra for days now, and I think she has gone with him last night."
The king groaned and stood up with force. "Go!" He ordered Selene who bowed and left immediately. The king then slumped on his royal chair, his eyes red.
"Luna has dared me."
****
When she got to his hut, it was so quiet. Like no one has ever been there for a very long time. Her eyes searched as she walked through every room.
"Kael? Kael?" Her voice whispered softly, the cold visible through her breath. There was stillness. No one answered. She called his name again, and she heard a soft groan from a room at the corner.
"Kael!" She ran and opened the door, and there he was, lying as though dead, only groaning in pains. Luna covered her mouth in tears and knelt beside him. She held him.
"Kael. What happened?"
He looked up to her, his eyes dim and lonely. He smiled and held her hands. "It's fine. I'll be fine."
"How do you say that Kael?! You're... you're dying!" Luna cried. Kael began coughing aggressively.
"Kael, please..."
"I'm not dying. I'll...be fine. I just need to...rest. "
"Was this why you didn't know if you were going to marry me? Because you're sick?"
Kael smiled weakly. "I'm not actually...sick. I just..." He began coughing again, this time, worse. Luna was becoming very scared.
"Kael! Kael, please wait...let me get you...."
"Kael!" Aric barged in immediately. He rushed to him and held him up immediately that he sat on the floor, his head hanging down.
"Luna quick! Go to that table and get me a jar there..."
Luna didn't wait before she rushed over. "Which among them?"
"The silver one!"
She brought it quickly to him and Aric opened the jar and forced the liquid into his mouth.
"What's that?" Luna asked him, her lips still trembling.
"It helps to calm him down." Aric said and looked at her. "Kael is going to be fine. He's just having...his attacks." He took a piece of cloth and wiped his mouth, closing the jar. "He'll be fine, trust me. He just needs to rest." He said and helped him to a couch beside the hearth. He laid him down and covered him with a thick blanket. Luna came to him and patted his head.
"You'll be fine."
Kael smiled weakly and shut his eyes. He slept off immediately as his head tilted to the other side. Aric sighed and began leaving.
"Wait," Luna held his arm, then removed it immediately. "Sorry, um...thank you."
"For what?" Aric gazed at her.
"Umm...why does he have attacks?"
"The red moon."
"What?"
Aric began walking outside. "He shouldn't be disturbed. " Luna followed him.
"His panic attack began when he experienced the first red moon that occured when he was 10. He almost choked to death. The red moon takes a life, but he survived that day. It wasn't him that his was was taken."
Luna was quiet for a while. Sadness was written all over her. "Why does the red moon take a life?"
"Because something bad has happened. Or because someone from a forbidden tribe has entered the realm."
Luna felt a cold shudder run through her. "So, I am the cause? This is happening because of me?"
Aric gave her a cold gaze. "This was why I was against you being here. I knew this would happen. " Then he looked away and took a deep breath. "Luna, my brother can't marry you. He will die. "
"What?!" Luna staggered back.
"He..."
Luna gripped him. "He 'what?', say it!"
"He'll tell you himself. "Aric said and removed her grip on his arm. "I know he'll like to. I have to go now."
Luna gasped and turned away in shock. There's a secret. Something is been hidden from her.
"Looks after him and don't step out for now," Aric said as he looked up. "I don't know who has died but the moon is clearing already."
"Wait... someone is dead because I came here?"
"Look, the people believed you because you showed them. They didn't know this was to still occur else they would've kicked you out long at that very moment. Now that they have been proven wrong, your life is in danger Luna." Aric said as he turned to leave. Luna couldn't believe it. She slowly slipped on the wall and sat on the floor, her hands grasping her knees in terror.
"Luna."
Her heart almost jumped out when she heard her name. She shuddered, and then turned only to see Kael, standing beside her. She stood up immediately, gazing at him with tears.
"Luna, I...."
"Why didn't you tell me?" She interrupted him. "Why did you lie to me?"
"I didn't lie to you."
"But you never told me!" She cried. "You never said why you couldn't be forever with me!"
"Because I can!" Kael yelled back and then calmed down. Luna, you need to calm down okay? I can and I will. We'll be together, forever."
Luna chuckled bitterly. "You know, you told me this exactly in my dream. You're lying! I don't believe a word you say again and I'm leav..."
Kael came closer and pulled her in a tight hug immediately. "Hush... don't ever complete that word. Don't you dare."
"I'm not, "Luna cried in his arms. "But I really wish you tell me what's going on."
Kael released her and wiped her tears with his thumb. "I'm not dying. I just had a panic attack."
"Aric said you're going to die if you marry me."
Kael was quiet for a second. "I..."
Luna opened her mouth and looked so doubtfully at him. "Is it true? Tell me!" He punched him slightly on his chest.
"Yes! It's true!," Kael replied, sighing weakly and helplessly. "It's true and...I can't help it."
Luna stepped back from him and turned away in tears. "Why?"
"Because I..."
"Why?!" She repeated coldly.
"I do not really carry an Umbra blood."
Luna blinked and turned sharply. "What do you mean?"
"I'm from the forests, Luna."