The Rebirth Of The Banished And Rejected Luna

•RAVEN•

"A long time ago—" My mother paused and coughed. I placed a damp cloth on her forehead to ease her fever. "Werewolves and vampires lived together in harmony until Vesper brought calamity between the two communities. He wanted to be in control of the sun and moon, but for punishment, he received a curse of immortality. To roam around the earth endlessly, losing everything and everyone he loved."

"But Mom, how is it a curse when he gets to live forever?" I asked, leaning closer to her on the small bed. "I would be happy if I lived forever."

"What joy would that be when you watch everyone you love grow old and die, Raven?" she asked, placing her shaky hand on mine. "There are rumors that Vesper is still trying to find someone who will break the curse, so he will die."

"Oh," I sighed. "How old is he now, Mom?"

"Three thousand years old," she answered, coughing. It always broke my heart when she did. Her coughs were dry, and sometimes her mucus came out with bloodstains.

"It's okay, Mom. You can tell me the entire story tomorrow again," I said as I patted her chest, trying to ease her pain. "You should rest."

"Thank you, sweetheart." She leaned her head and kissed my forehead.

Though we were in the housekeeper's room, I felt better knowing she was right there with me.

"I love you, Raven, I always will," she muttered. "Don't forget that."

"I love you too, Mama."

And I slept again that night, with my hand around her waist, praying to the moon that my father's heart would finally soften and take her to the hospital.

I usually woke up around 5 a.m. when I heard the housekeepers cleaning the hallway.

I went to the bathroom and prepared a bucket of warm water to wash and massage my mother's swollen feet.

But that morning, she didn't wake up like she usually did when she heard me running the water in the geyser in the bathroom.

She was still sleeping when I walked back to the bedroom. I placed the bucket next to the bed and dumped the towel inside before I placed it on her feet.

I expected her to groan or scold me for waking her up, but she didn't. I sat on the stool and massaged her feet while humming the song she liked.

"Mom, do you think Dad will take you to the hospital this time?" I sighed, getting up from the chair and leaning toward her. "We've been good for the past four days and haven't caused trouble for him. Surely he has forgiven us now."

She didn't respond.

"It's okay, Mom. I will speak to him as his daughter," I continued as I sat beside her. "He might listen to me this time and help you."

I froze when I placed my hand on top of hers and realized it was cold. She didn't even move. For a moment, everything was still, and my heartbeat slowed.

I tilted her head and screamed when I saw her eyes wide open with dried blood on the corners and on her nose.

My heart raced, and I felt the walls closing in on me. I was ten years old and understood very well what had happened to her.

"Miss Raven," Alora's voice came from the door. "What's wrong?" She closed the door behind her and leaned toward me.

I didn't answer. I couldn't answer. My tongue was tied to the roof of my mouth. My throat tightened and burned when I tried to say something to her.