His Accidental Luna

THE DISEASE IS SPREADING

CHAPTER 19: THE DISEASE IS SPREADING

Nerissa was expecting a warm welcome from Salem, but it was otherwise to what she had gotten. Her smile vanish. Although they had been allowed to enter, nobody had greet them unlike before. The land lay in silence. Solitude breathed and rushing on its breathen. The forest  stretched high and might, same with the Kingdom, which is enormous on their sight. There are flocks of birds, but no souls loitered. Brooms discarded, and the vines uprooted from the ground, which continue to grow, much larger and bulkier as it surrounded the Palace walls and infrastructures.

It was far more different than how Reinsworth and Devonshire were built. Unlike them, which thrive with gold, longevity and fortune to express their power and authority, Salem have a much more simpler features. It doesn’t have gold to offer, but the peace, the solace that one would seek. Its forest were vast, an expansion extending towards the two Kingdoms. Salem had this easing aura. An ambiance which offered friendship, and not fiend capitulated foe, who waned troubles and war. They do not choose whom to help. They play fair, and do not turned their head away from those who seek their help.

It was one of the purest kingdom filled with magic, healing and sealing enchantment to restore the peace, and now it seems deserted. Abandoned even, but Nerissa doubt that the witches would just left without leaving any warning at all.

“Did something happened?” Confounded, she frowned and was suddenly confused.

To where her eyes lies, there’s nothing, but the empty feeling, although it feels odd. It was strange. Long before as far as she could remember, there would be witches whose days would be filled with herbals, seeking new roots for potion, and young witches to be taught to about how magic paid a great price on their life. How it could cost them something they least expect to.

But not this sight.

“Where could they had gone to?” Nerissa continue.

On her back, Lily followed suit. She looks uncertain and anxious, she doesn’t know, but there are just some things about witches that doesn’t made her feel at ease. The scars she had before the truce, the wound her soul had gotten severely that perhaps made her wary of their presence before the ally had been built between them. In spite of knowing, how they had become more friendly, always at their back to aid them in battle.

“Don’t you think they left, your majesty?” That’s the only thing Lily could suggest to Nerissa whose worry and concern is already showing on her face.

The smile she have wears off. Her lips contorted, her forehead cease on a deep frowns.

“Without saying they are?” Nerissa shook her head. “That would be impossible, Lily.”

“But what would better explain their disappearance?” Same with Nerissa, Lily had a deeper frown on her face as well.

“That’s why we are here, Lily.” Nerissa uttered softly. “And I am glad we decided to be here.”

They made a detour. Yet it never changes that fact even on the slightest of it. The witches are still missing, and they had made their visit on every part and cranny. No people, but there are food and pots burning and was still warm. It was as if they had vanish out of the blue the moment they arrived.

“This is beginning to get strange.” Nerissa muttered under her breathe before she glance over her shoulder and gaze at Lily. “Come quick, we need to do something.”

“What are you planning to do, your highness?” Lily looks worried.

Nerissa did not answer. She earned no response, but the Queen had lead her outside. The stormed out of tee house they had paid a visit.

“Your majesty...!” Lily, although confused, she run after her.

Nerissa had a firm expression on her face. Soft footfalls were left behind. She did not even pay any heed as mud clings on her dress. It was heavy, but it seems it’s not as she carry herself with cadence the way a Queen acts. She continue on her way until her and Lily arrived at the centre of the Kingdom. This is where a platform was, a cemented ground with a magic circle engraved to its hard and thick surface. It looks anew, newly painted, and fresh on the eye, perhaps, a magic strengthening to mark it as a way to gather and ask, this magic circle only present to those who have pure intentions, if not, it won’t even aid those who seek for help, a life to be redeemed no matter how impossible it was for some.

“Your majesty, what...?” Questionably, Lily asked.

“Step back for a moment, Lily.” Nerissa only ordered the latter.

Left with no choice, Lily do as what she say.

“As you wish, your majesty.” She gnawed her bottom lips.

As she did, Nerissa’s body began to change. Her limbs twisted, her howl of pain made Lily shut down her orbs and refused to even take a look. She could hear whimpers, while Nerissa endure, bear the pain and despair of her transformation. She bit her own lips, but as that exact moment as she was in the middle of morphing to her own wolf, the magic circle underneath began to glow. It spark a light, blinding lily. It was so bright that she needed to shield her face in order to protect her eyes.

“Y—your majesty!” She sounded worried.

But as it diminish, there stood a beautiful white wolf, enormous and large as she stood massive to where the Queen once stood. Tattered clothes lay on her paw. Her snout lifted. Her features were the same exactly to how the Queen appeared more elegant adherent to her position.

Lily was in awe.

But right before, the Queen roared loudly. It was loud, urging, evoking for another vision offered by the magic circle. Lily saw it happens. The language engrave, the dialect afflicted and lifted and surrounded her. It envelopes her slowly as if telling her something that was unbeknownst to Lily.

She keep her watch.

On the other hand, Nerissa listens.

‘Tell me where the witches are.’ She mustered inside her head, whispering using her soul as she seek for the answer she was soughing after.

The light became intense, it was too intense when a voice come up and loitered, it was unknown, she didn’t know whom it belongs to, but surely enough, it might have been the goddess who are there protecting the coven.

‘On where the sun lies, you’ll find them. Yet no assurance heard as it may be too late.’ It said.

To where the sun lies?

Realization drawn to her.

Her eyes turned towards the west.

Lily followed suit her line of sight. She glance over her shoulder to signal her. Lily had gotten what she was trying to say and soon enough, both on their wolf form they ventured in seek of the missing witches from the Motherland of Salem.

They were in haste. Nerissa even outrun Lily as her wolf is more agile. This only shows how different their rank was from one anther. But Lily continue, keeping her tracks and smell to not lose the queen, but as they arrived, their worries turned even more than what they think it should be.

The witches are there, but their state is something that she had least expect to.

“Geniva!” Queen Nerissa quickly morphed on her human form.

She did not mind her bareness as she quickly knelt and went closer to her friend.

It was Gineva, who had been lying across the ruins. She appeared not wounded, but she haven’t had any consciousness same with the other witches. They passed out, but because of what? That was something Nerissa was here for.

She carefully hold her head and placed it on her legs.

“Gin?” She calls once again.

There’s a slight movement. Her lips parted. Hope rose from the Queen’s chest and slowly Gineva’s eyes fluttered open.

She cough.

“N—Nerissa?” She squinted her eyes at her. “What are you doing here...?”

“I was here to visit you, but look, what exactly happened here, Gin?” She could help her worries to come affront than to discuss with her friend her sole reason of why she was there in the first place.

“It’s a long story.” Gineva said.

Nerissa and Lily help her to sit across.

“But look.” Afterwards, she gestured in front.

“What?” Both Lily and Nerissa followed her line of sight.

But imagine how shock and baffled the two was.

“What in the world...” Nerissa was at lost of words she should speak of and describe what took place.

The forest bound inside the coven of SALEM were at that state, impeccable to state that they are rotten. The trees withering, although they stood old, they face calamities, and now, they are at the brink of dying, but for what reason? Nerissa was shock at the sight. She never imagine this would happen.

“What’s the meaning of this, Gin?” Her gaze were soon brought to Gineva.

The latter had a serious expression firmly set on her face, but there on her eyes, Nerissa could see her despair, the cry she hid, the sorrow, which she every witches residing in Salem could feel. The home they thrive, the forest they grow until it flourish is now on its ruins.

“It’s a disease, Nerissa.” They could hear the sadness on her voice. “Do you remember what you saw before the war?”

Her chest thump loudly the moment she bring it across.

“The prophecy...” Nerissa gulps the lump forming inside her throat, but it is much easier to say than done. “Gin...?”

“It’s happening.” Gineva gnawed her bottom lips. “The darkness is slowly awakening, and it thrives to kill those who live, and the disease it bring to us would soon continue to cause calamity. It would kill those who breathe. It would take lives, soon before its master became freed from where it has been imprisoned once.”

“That would be impossible!” Nerissa stood up. She looks horrified. “You said that to where that dark goddess lies won’t be penetrable—”

“But I didn’t say how long would it be able to hold her in abyss.” Gineva meet her eyes. “But I warned you about the son you gave birth.”

Nerissa was struck by the truth she couldn’t t accept. She was still on denial.

“Tarik...” Tears strung her eyes. Her knees wobbled. “H—who can I save my Tarik?”

“There is no salvation, Nerissa.” Gineva look at her sadly. It made Nerissa’s chest ache even more. “Unless...” She added and trailed off.

“Unless what? Tell me!” Hope blooms inside the Queen.

“Unless his fate change, but it would cost greatly—”

“If life it was, I can give mine.” Nerissa cut her off, she is willing to offer hers in exchange of Tarik.

“You silly.” Gineva reach out and softly caressed her face. “It wasn’t always the mother who should give and offered the love he needs.”

Nerissa seems confuse.

“If not me, who?” She asked.

“It was somebody whom he had been paired with. The fate he had been given in spite of the destruction his destiny holds.”

Realization drawn to Nerissa.

“Don’t tell me...” She looks surprised.

“—but in order to save his life, your sons life, the curse must be passed over to the bond they had.” Gineva continue. “The curse meant for him she would take, yet I couldn’t assured whether she’ll live, but your son would be spared from the mark of darkness the moment he gets born into this world.”

And Nerissa knew who was the person she was talking about.

“You couldn’t mean....” Even Lily couldn’t absorb what she’s been hearing being spouted from Gineva ‘s lips.

“His mate. That was right, Lily.” Gineva confirmed. “And the decision would be in your hands, Nerissa.”

But she was torn. How can she fight over for his sons life and happiness, when it only offer one end? His death, and his...torment.

@cycy