When the Luna Vanished Chapter 04

When the Luna Vanished Chapter 04
I trembled with agony, my heart feeling as if pierced by
a thousand nails.
Isaac had helped me bury those mementos of our four daughters with his own hands.
He’d seemed so remorseful back then, vowing to honor
their memory always.
And now, with a word, he had ordered those same
sacred tokens ground to dust and scattered to the
uncaring wind.
As the warlock consigned my children’s last remnants
to the green-tinged wolfsbane flames, a hot, coppery flood fountained from my lips. A scream of pure anguish tore from me, but all that emerged was a wet, gurgling rasp.
“Issac… I hate you! May you… rot in hell!”
With those words, I slipped into darkness.
When I woke, it was the next day.
The searing pain was gone, replaced by an eerie lightness.
I knew it was the final glow before death.
A fit of coughing seized me, each convulsion spraying
flecks of dark, clotted blood across the pristine white
sheets.
Voices erupted at the bedroom door. The warlock
appeared, calling out:
“Alpha, Luna Celeste has awakened.”
Behind him stood several wolf healers, their faces
grim, daggers in hand.
“What do you want?” I asked warily.
Issac sat beside my bed, bloodshot eyes scanning my
broken body.
A flicker of regret crossed his face.
“Layla… the curse you laid upon her still holds her in
its grip,” he said, the words coming out flat, rehearsed.
“The warlock is certain. Only the heart’s blood of the
one who cast it can break the spell. Your heart’ blood,
Celeste.”
I stared at him in disbelief, “I didn’t cast any curse! I
did nothing!”
Issac clamped down on my wrist, “This isn’t the time
for lies. We only need a bowl-just a bowl of your
blood!”
“Hurry! Do it!”
At his command, the healers pinned my bloodied body
to the bed.
The warlock raised his curved dagger, its tip aimed at
my chest.
I trembled, my gaze locking onto Issac’s.
“Seven years,” I gasped. “I bore you five daughters.
Even a beast would have learned compassion! Yet you
believe these lies, trying to kill me over and over. Issac
Bennett, I curse the day I met you!”
His eyes reddened. He turned away.
“Don’t worry,” he muttered. “You won’t die. The
healers will keep you alive!”
“And as for children-once you recover, we’ll have
more!”
Before the words faded, the dagger plunged into my
broken chest.
Its hooked blade twisted and tore at my insides.
But I felt no pain-only the sound of flesh rending,
blood gushing like a river.
Then, the Golden Witch’s voice echoed in my mind: “Celeste Brown, it’s time to keep your promise. Are you
ready?”
I smiled bitterly, “I… I am.”
Thud.
I collapsed back onto the bed.
The warlock pulled out the dagger, holding a bowl brimming with blood as he approached Issac.
But before Issac could step outside, the healers shouted
in panic:
“No! Luna Celeste has stopped breathing!”