Belladonna's eyes widened and she tried to swim back to the surface in fear but in a second, she was surrounded by the sirens.
Her eyes darted around quickly and she turned to the one that seemed to be leading them. It was a different one from the siren that held Alaris captive. This one looked older, while the one who held Alaris as her captive was behind her.
Their leader stretched out her hand and Belladonna squinted her eyes before a realization hit her.
A trade! They wanted a trade.
By Ignas, what could she trade?
Her eyes moved to the bracelet on her wrist but that was made out of Alaris’ soul. She didn't want to give them that, afraid that they might use it to control him or do something worse.
Then she took off the rig Eli had given to her and stretched it to them instead.
That was of a lot of value to her and it felt painful to part with it, but she knew they wouldn't accept anything worthless to begin with. It had to be something that held much importance.
Also, she still had his necklace. She would hold onto that.
But the leader shook her head and pointed at Alaris, when her mouth moved, her voice seemed to echo all around Belladonna, a delayed sound from how her lips moved.
“Something of Connection!” She said with a hiss.
Something of connection to Alaris?
Her hand moved to the bracelet with hesitation, until she realized that she was running out of air, then she stretched it to them.
The leader swam closer to her and yanked the bracelet away but that wasn't the only thing she took, she had taken the ring too. Immediately, something felt foggy with her memory of it.
“No—” Belladonna began to say but she stopped as water rushed into her lungs. She stretched out her hand to signal that Alaris should be given to her immediately, and the leader sent the siren holding him captive, a nod.
What happened next though was something Belladonna hadn't seen coming. Instead of giving the unconscious Alaris to her, the siren grabbed her too and before she could protest, she charged through the sea at her speed that sent her dizzy.
The wave pushed her in so many directions she lost count and just like that the siren threw them back on shore.
Belladonna was coughing, trying to get the water out of her body when she looked to her side and saw that the siren was once again kissing Alaris. She staggered to her feet to stop it, but the siren was done in a second and with one final look and hoss, she dived back into the sea.
“Give me back— my ring!” She yelled, panting.
Her voice echoed around her, along with a growl of a beast that had been disturbed with her yelling.
She turned slowly to where she had heard the growl from, she saw no beast but she saw a rod, nailed with a piece of wood on top, to tell the name of each path they would take on the split road.
There was a beast here.
“Alaris—” she whispered as she took a step back.
But Alaris still laid on the floor unconscious.
Was he still alive? Fear rushed through her lungs at the thought of him being dead.
She turned to check but at that moment, a wild beast leaped on her out of nowhere and slammed her hard against the floor. It was bigger than any beast she had ever encountered here and it held her down with one paw.
“Alaris!” She managed to scream, feeling suffocated with how much weight was pressed against her.
Before the beast would rip into her though, something attacked him from behind.
By Ignas, he was awake!
Losing interest in her, the beast turned to its new challenge.
Quickly, she stood up.
“Hide, Nightshade!”
She obeyed, a smile playing on her face as relief washed over her.
Alaris was alive.
Nothing could kill her with Alaris by her side.
______
______
Lycan's Realm.
___
Aniya didn't go back to her room that night, instead she had gone to the Princess' room and begged for her help once again.
“He took him to the Temple. Please, take me there.” She had begged - fallen to her knees and begged.
But the Princess had only looked at her with a sad expression and claimed that if there was anything she could do about the situation, she would have done it.
That night Aniya had wept and the Princess had tried her best to comfort her, telling her that no harm would come upon her son.
The next day, the Princess had rushed to her excitedly and told her about The Selection that would happen that day.
“The Selection? What is that?”
“It is for the Moon’s Gift!”
“What is that?” Aniya’s voice had been filled with boredom.
What the Princess was talking about didn't sound like anything to bring her son back. Therefore, it was unimportant.
But the Princess explained the details of The Moon’s Gift to her, telling her that anyone that would acquire the Moon’s Gift would be able to have any request granted to them.
Aniya's eyes had widened with surprise and with a slow realization, she remembered that Ikrus had said something about the Moon’s Gift when he was talking about his necessary sacrifice to the North Border. But he has only mentioned it and not explained it in detail like the Princess had just done.
“Any wish?” Her voice had now been filled with curiosity.
The Princess nodded. “With some rules to guide the wish of course. You cannot wish to be Alpha.” She chuckled. “Not every warrior can take part in the Hunt, so tonight The Selection will take place.” She had been beaming, like there was something she was about to say that would change everything.
“Speak, Oana. Tell me!”
“My brother is partaking in The Selection tonight. He is doing it for you!”
Oana was always ready to advocate for how much of a good person her brother was but Aniya would rather die than believe that the creature that was responsible for ripping her apart from her son and has proposed death to her, was anything but evil.
However, him acquiring the Moon’s Gift was promising for her. It meant life, it meant reunion with her son and for those reasons she hoped that he would win.
Just like that, there was something to look forward to.
Something that might actually change everything.