"Where are you off to?" Arman asked, his curiosity piqued as he watched his sister carefully wrap herself in her veil. She covered not only her hair but the lower part of her face, leaving only her striking green eyes visible.
Leila paused, casting him a sidelong glance. "I've prepared new fragrances," she replied, a hint of excitement in her voice. "It's time to deliver more supplies to my sisters at the Glory House." Arman's expression darkened as worry etched across his face. He knew all too well the risks she was taking. If the shah's men ever discovered her nighttime excursions—or worse, if they uncovered her secret—she could face imprisonment, torture, or even execution.
"Leila," he said, his voice firm but laced with concern. "You're being too reckless. I know you're confident because of your bloodline, but you don't have superhuman strength. This world is filled with dangerous men, and it's even more dangerous at night. We're already deep within the forest, yet you still insist on wandering toward the villages at night."
She met his worried gaze with an unflinching look, her confidence unwavering. "That's exactly why I go at night. The security is always lighter near the village borders then. No one's going to suspect me, Arman. And I make good money from the glory house, people won't suspect me, they would think I am one of them."
He let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his forehead. "You're missing the point, Leila. It's dangerous, no matter how careful you think you're being. And I'm sure you don't even realize what day it is."
Her confident expression faltered, replaced by a hint of confusion. "What day?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper…
"You see…" Arman sighed, his exasperation barely contained. "Tonight is a full moon, Leila. Every one of those creatures will be at their strongest, especially the nocturnal ones. Didn't you tell me you were chased by wolves the last time you went out?"
Leila waved his concern off with a flick of her hand. "That's why, if you let me go now, I can reach the village before the moon rises." Her tone was stubborn as she tightened another veil around her hair and shoulders, fully cloaking herself. "I'll buy an amulet on my way back," she added briskly, turning on her heel to head out.
Despite her confident strides, she couldn't ignore the faint tremor beneath her bravado. It's been twenty-eight days now, she met with the powerful and terrifying Shahkhur, and has been that twenty eight days she had promised him to come back and help him break his curse, but she hadn't.
"As long as I stay away from the Forbidden Forest, I'll be fine," she reassured herself quietly, though her heart pounded faster as she moved along the dim forest trail. The air was dense, and each shadow seemed to stretch and warp, following her every step. She tried to steady her breath, but it emerged in unsteady, shallow pants. Her senses were heightened.
A sudden noise—a faint crackling between the dry leaves—stopped her in her tracks. She froze, her heartbeat racing in her ears as her eyes widened, searching her surroundings. Her mind spun with dark possibilities, imagining she was being hunted.
Just then, a small creature darted out from the bushes with a rustling flurry, leaping across her path.
"Argh!" she screamed, instinctively clutching her chest as her breath hitched. But as the animal revealed itself, she burst into laughter, clutching her chest as she realized it was nothing more than a rabbit. She shook her head, feeling a bit foolish, but quickly composed herself.
A shiver ran down Leila's spine as she imagined what might have happened if the creature stalking her had been Shahkhur. She could almost see herself, torn apart limb by limb by his monstrous strength. She shook her head, trying to dispel the gruesome image, and quickened her pace, nearly breaking into a sprint. Only when she emerged from the dense forest did she finally allow herself to breathe deeply, her heart gradually slowing as she calmed herself.
Now that she was safe—for the moment—her mind returned to her task. She needed to sell these fragrances quickly so she could return home unscathed. Leila's usual tactic was to wait by the trees at the edge of the village until a crowd of merchants began quibbling with the guards. At the right moment, she would slip in, blending with them. Being a woman gave her a small advantage; the guards were forbidden from touching women unless they were branded criminals.
"It's the night of the full moon again!" an elderly woman cried, her raspy voice reaching even Leila's ears. She turned and saw the old storyteller, the same woman who had spoken about Shahkhur the last time she'd been here.
This time, instead of watching from a safe distance, Leila found herself moving closer. The old woman had gathered a substantial crowd, her wrinkled face alive with fervor as she gestured wildly. "You must protect your loved ones from the fearsome beasts that roam tonight!" she bellowed, her voice ringing out even without any aid. She shook a tambourine rhythmically, calling the attention of every passerby. "I have talismans—strong, protective charms! Even one powerful enough to repel the King of Beasts himself!"
Leila's gaze locked onto the amulets in the woman's hands. Maybe, if she'd had one of these charms last time, she wouldn't have been attacked.
"By the wolves, nor by the tiger," Leila thought to herself, reflecting on the dangers that roamed the forest under the full moon.
"It's all nonsense," muttered a man standing beside her. With a dismissive shake of his head, he turned to leave, grumbling, "What are these guards doing, letting anyone waltz into the village? That crazy woman has been going on like this for ages."
The old woman ignored him, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. "These amulets are cheap, but they're worth far more than the cost of your lives," she proclaimed, holding up the charms. "Even the feared Shahkhur will be powerless to harm you or your loved ones if you keep one of these close."
A skeptical voice rang out from the crowd. "You're charging eight Takah for an amulet we might never even need!" a woman shouted, folding her arms. "I'm not setting foot in the Evil Forest, so why would I waste money on this nonsense? Shahkhur's bound by the curse to stay there. Stop trying to scare innocent people!"
The woman shook her tambourine, undeterred. "The forest is filled with more than Shahkhur! Wolves, bears, and other deadly spirits prowl near the village borders on nights like this. And what if something else comes knocking at your door? Will you sacrifice your child to save yourself?"
Leila felt her heart hammering as she listened. The warnings struck too close to home. She had seen the dangers with her own eyes, faced the fear that made others scoff. Without thinking, she stepped forward, her voice breaking through the murmurs around her. "I'll buy one!"
Heads turned, some in surprise, others with raised brows, but Leila ignored them. Her mind was set. She needed something powerful enough to ward off the terrors she faced, something that even Shahkhur wouldn't dare approach.
"Give me the strongest one you have," she demanded, her tone firm. "I want something that can stand against Shahkhur himself."