DUSK.
A chill ran up my spine, and my breath began to come out shakily. My hands also began to tremble.
The footsteps stopped, and I wanted to turn, but I was too scared to turn.
I closed my eyes and tried to muster all the courage I had within me.
Lots of thoughts roamed my head as I wondered if I was the next victim, if I was going to be found the next morning hanging on a tree or on the floor with my throat torn out.
After some seconds, I decided to accept my fate and turned sharply.
"Ah..."
A gasp of relief escaped me as I saw Lucius standing there, smiling at me.
“What were you thinking? That the killer had come for you?” He asked, still smiling.
"That's what anyone would think.” I said, and he laughed.
"You really shouldn't be out at night if two warriors have been found dead.” He said, and I nodded.
He came closer and looked at my drawing.
"Let me see this.” He said and sat down with it.
I sat next to him.
"What is this?” He asked, and I looked at him.
"This isn't recognizable?" I asked, and he looked at me and laughed.
The last time I had seen Lucius laugh was since my stupid act with the potion. He was here, laughing with me, totally sane. He wasn't under a spell.
I cleared my throat and looked at the painting.
He needed a Luna and was just trying to persuade me. A jerk will always be a jerk. I'd never forget how he had made life hell for me just because he had become sweeter. It was all so I'd accept being his Luna.
"It's a lion. And this is its shadow.” I said, and he looked at the painting.
"Why's the shadow bigger than it? This shadow is too big to be a lion's." He said, and I looked at him.
"The lion is you. The lion is a king, and so are you, but your problems, fears, and insecurities are way bigger than you.” I said, and he looked at the painting for a while.
I knew it was going to annoy him since he had the mentality that nothing was more than him, but instead, he said
"You're right. My fears are bigger than me.” He said and looked at me, and for a while, I saw a vulnerable side of him in his eyes. For some reason, I couldn't tear my eyes away from that look, and he raised his hand to my cheek and leaned in, but I pulled away.
"It's quite late. We both need some rest.” I said, taking my painting. I stood to my feet and gave a little bow before turning.
"Dusk." He called, and I turned to see him standing.
"You seem to be good at painting. Would you paint my warriors while they train? I'd like for it to depict loyalty, so I'd hang it on the wall of my room. Would that be too hard?” He asked, and I shook my head.
"I'll do that.” I said and walked away.
I wanted nothing to do with Lucius. Being with him brought back unwanted memories, and he didn't know it.
~
The next morning, I and Seline were at the training grounds, watching the warriors train.
I made a little broomstick sketch of their stances and started to paint it properly on my canvas.
"You know, I think Athena doesn't know much about herself. You know she was abandoned.” Seline said as I painted.
"What do you mean by that?” I asked, and she turned to me.
"I'm thinking her ability to calm is a magical gift and not something she learned with experience. I've witnessed her calming Lucius and the way her voice goes soft. It's not something learned. It's a magical gift.” She said, and I looked at her.
"What makes you so sure?" I asked.
"Her background isn't really known. She could have had someone in the family who was a witch. She doesn't even know much about herself. It was probably an ability that developed over time.” Seline said, and I gave it a thought.
"Probably. But I'm happy she put it to good use.” I said, and then Seline suddenly laughed. "What's funny?" I asked, and she held my arm.
"Ariadne has been going crazy thinking Lucius is going to pick Athena as his Luna. Athena? She doesn't even know much about herself or where she's from, and she's going to be our Luna. It's so obvious. Everyone knows you're going to be Luna." She said, and I swallowed.
"Why the sudden mood change?” She asked, and I looked at her.
"I don't want to be Luna. And I mean it both ways. I don't want to be a Luna for Lucius, nor do I want to be a Luna for his pack.” I said, and Seline looked at me with worry in her voice. She was about to speak when a man rushed past us.
The man looked like he was running from something.
"Did he go crazy or what?” Seline asked.
"Why's he in such a hurry?” I asked, and Seline tapped me repeatedly.
"Oh my God! He's bleeding!" She said and ran after him.
"Wait. He's... He's... Where?" I asked, dropped my paintbrush quickly, jumped to my feet, and went after Seline.
The moment Lucius' men saw him, they stopped the training.
"Did he..." Marcus asked me, but I shook my head because he hadn't had any interactions with us.
The man went on his knees. There was blood gashing out of his thigh, but from his arms upward, he was pale and white.
"Are you alright? How did you get hurt? Are you... Are you.... Were you almost a victim yesterday?” Seline asked, and the man looked at her until he passed out.
There was only one name he called.