Chapter 266 Morningstar's Shadow

Chapter 266 Morningstar's Shadow
LEITANA

“Who’s there? Show yourself!” I called out, slowly turning in a circle.

The garden lay quiet beneath the night sky. The distant lights from the main villa glowed softly, casting long shadows over the vegetable patches and flower beds. Nothing moved. No footsteps. No rustling leaves beyond the gentle evening breeze.

I kept searching, my heartbeat quickening, but there was nothing there.

Still…

The feeling refused to leave.

It lingered, heavy and watchful, as though invisible eyes were fixed on me. I shook my head, trying to brush it off.

Lowering my gaze, I looked at the spot where I’d vomited. It looked awful, and I didn’t want anyone stumbling across it. A few feet away, I noticed a small patch of loose soil beside some young crops. I walked over, crouched down, and scooped up handfuls of the damp earth. It was cool and gritty, slipping beneath my fingernails, but I barely noticed. Carrying it back, I sprinkled the soil over the mess, carefully covering it. I repeated the process three times until I was satisfied it was completely hidden.

“Ahh…”

I let out a slow breath as I wiped my hands on my dress. My palm drifted to my stomach, rubbing it gently. The curve beneath my hand was now bigger than a bump, and in a few months…

My baby would be here.

Warmth bloomed inside my chest, quietly pushing back the fear.

“Let’s go meet your papa,” I whispered to my belly, smiling softly.

I had barely turned to leave when a voice stopped me cold.

“How cute you are.”

I froze.

The voice came from somewhere in front of me. But when I looked… there was no one. The garden remained empty, moonlight stretching the shadows across the ground.

Cold fear swept through me.

“Who are you?” I demanded, my voice far steadier than I felt.

The voice answered with laughter. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, slithering through the air like smoke.

Then, to my horror, the shadows around me began to move. They twisted across the ground, crawled over the plants, slithered between the trees, writhing like living creatures.

Yet I still saw no one.

Only darkness dancing in ways it never should.

“How naïve you are, Star,” the voice purred. It sounded closer now. “So full of light and hope. Still believing you can protect what grows inside you.”

My hands flew instinctively to my belly. A surge of anger burned through me, chasing away some of the fear. I stepped forward despite the tremble in my legs, fixing my gaze on the shifting darkness.

“Show yourself!” I shouted. “Come out and face me!”

The voice laughed again—this time crueler.

“I see you are eager for the birth of that thing inside you,” it hissed. “How sweet but foolish. You think you can carry it safely? You think the Devil can protect what was never meant to be born?”

My fists clenched at my sides.

“Leave my child alone!” I shouted, fury sharpening every word. “You have no right to speak about my baby! Show yourself, coward!”

The shadows twisted even faster, closing around me like living vines.

Then the voice dropped to a venomous whisper that sent ice crawling down my spine.

“Oh, little Star… you have no idea what’s coming for both of you.”

I frowned, taking another step forward. “What are you talking about?”

“I would love to tell you, honestly I would, but that will just ruin the surprise. And I love surprises.”

What really is this thing? The thought raced through my head. A spirit? A demon?

Suddenly a different voice, deep and familiar, filled the air.

“Leitana.”

Mi Ravial.

“Oh, here comes the once upon Morningstar…” the voice said, making me gasp.

The shadows parted. A figure stepped into the faint light of a garden lamp a few feet away. It was Ravial, rushing toward me, stopping just inches away. His hand clasped over my face, thumb stroking my cheek gently.

I looked at where the voice had been coming from, but it was definitely no longer there. My head was spinning with thoughts, my eyes fixed on his blindfold.

“Are you unwell, my lamb?” Ravial asked, voice calm but laced with concern.

I snapped out of it, shaking my head quickly. “Mi fine. We should go.”

He looked at me for a long moment, clearly not fully believing me, but he said nothing. He simply took my hand and led me back toward the main building.

We said quiet goodbyes to the girls and the nuns. Rosie was already half-asleep in my arms, clutching Mr. Fluffy tightly. We got into the car and drove home in silence, the weight of the day pressing on all of us.

One of the staff gently took the sleeping Rosie to her room. Ravial and I went to ours. He helped me out of my clothes, his hands rubbing gently over my breasts and stomach, kissing me softly. I whispered, “Mi Ravial, mi tired,” and he stopped immediately, noticing the exhaustion in my eyes.

He helped me into a soft nightgown, then we climbed into bed. He wrapped his powerful arms around me from behind, pulling me close against his chest.

“When you are ready,” he murmured against my hair, “tell me what is wrong.”

I said nothing, just closed my eyes and drifted into an uneasy sleep.

When I woke up, it was the middle of the night. The room was dark and quiet. I slowly turned in his arms and looked at Ravial. He was sleeping peacefully, blindfold still in place.

Why did that thing call him Morningstar? The thought wouldn’t leave me. That was just a demon playing tricks… right?

My eyes drifted to his blindfold. Even at night he always wore it. A strange urge filled me. Slowly, carefully, I lifted my hand and pushed one part of the blindfold aside.