I turn away, my eyes stinging as I stare out through the open window at the moon


    above


    Nothing can fix this….


    They enter and Atticus leaves the door open a crack, murmuring something about the children being


    asleep. He sits on the floor beside the bed, stretching his legs out,


    but I know he’s concerned.


    Tonight… I was unable to hide my emotions from anyone. Even my babies. I am an


    awful mother.


    I can’t even give them the best life they deserve and Sebastian… I wasn’t good


    enough for him…


    Jai sits beside me, wrapping his arms around me, but I don’t want anyone to touch


    1. me. I just want to be left alone.


    The fatigue I feel is wing inside of me, but I refuse to let myself fall into an


    endless abyss of pain and doom.


    “Come on, where’s that beautiful smile that we all melt over?” Jai says, wiping away


    my tears.


    I don’t respond, as Valerieughs gently. “It’s hiding for a bit, but it’ll show through.


    soon. Here Zaia.” she offers me a chocte muffin but I shake my head, refusing it.


    Was I put here simply to fulfil the goddess’s wishes? Her mission for her people… is


    that it? Do I not deserve anything else?


    I pull free from Jai’s hold and wrap my arms around my knees, refusing the mug of


    hot chocte that Valerie offers me.


    “It’s hot chocte?” she whispers gently.


    I shake my head, turning away.


    “You haven’t eaten all day, Red,” Atticus says.


    I don’t want anything…


    Jai sighs heavily. He didn’t take Sebastian leaving well at all.


    How will I tell the children their father is gone? That he has left them again.


    How much pain are we going to cause our babies?


    “So, what now?” Valerie asks the question that I know is on the minds of the others.


    My eyes sting with tears as I bury my head in my arms.


    “We prepare… with Sebastian on their side, it means he knows the ins and outs of


    this pack better than anyone,” Atticus says quietly.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    “They won’t attack,” Valerie says.


    “He is one of them. He might.” I reply emotionlessly.


    “Let’s think about this tomorrow,” Jai says, and I can feel his eyes on me.


    “The wicked don’t rest… so neither will we,” I reply quietly


    My heart may feel dead, but somehow… Somehow there’s that tiny me inside of


    me that refuses to die out…


    “Prepare tobine the Crystal Shadow Pack and the Dark Hollow Falls Pack With


    Dad missing, I am the next in line… I know he’s alive because I haven’t felt a power


    shift.” I say.


    “What about your brother? Can there be a chance that he could be the next in line-


    “No, Dad and I have alreadypleted the ritual that would make me his heir. He is


    alive. I don’t know where, but I will find him.” I say firmly, now looking up


    My heart is heavy, broken, and in pain. But the world won’t stop for me.


    *Zaia are you sure you’re, ok?” Atticus asks, concerned.


    “No, it would be a lie to say I am, but I will be.” I say quietly


    I know I’ll have moments where I’ll break, but there are still those who need me.


    need my protection.


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    “Just take it easy for a bit,” Atticus says and I shake my head.


    “No, I need to organise Mom’s funeral and there’s a lot more that needs doing,” I


    reply.


    “That’s my girl,” Valerie says with a gentle smile.


    “We are at war as I said… and I’m presuming they want me to fall…” I look out at the


    moon once more.


    There is a lot that must be done and the first thing I will do tomorrow is find the


    Moon Dust.


    “You are a force to be reckoned with.” Jai whistles with a small smile.


    But I don’t have the heart to return it. “Even the strongest of forces shatter… and I am


    far from the strongest… but I will not let them break me…”


    “You are incredible, Zaia. You got this.” Valerie says, taking my hand and giving it a


    gentle squeeze.


    “Mm… the first thing we need to do is work on the mind link,” I say, now looking at


    all three of them. “Let’s show them that the Sublime are fighters.


    “Yes, let’s do it!” Jai says.


    Their spirits are lifted, and I realise as long as I show them that I am fine, that it


    gives everyone else hope…. For them, I must keep fighting even if I’m dying inside.


    Where did I fail, Bastien? Where did Ick that I lost you once again?


    Because I did love you, with everything I had…


    I just wish you talked to me…..


    But I wasn’t important enough….


    Moonlight Muse


    Author


    Thankyou for reading


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