Curse of the Luna #STARYWRITINGACADEMYV

In the dining room, someone was waiting for my presence. My father—Seth Augustus, the King of Morti. He was sitting at the mahogany table with his eyes cast down, intimidating, and his large frame even managed to dwarf the huge table. The King's eyebrows were knitted together as he read from a long paper, a look of pure concentration covering his sharp features. I curtsied a bow while entering through the doorway, clearing my throat. "Good morning, Father." He looked up, folding the paper and gave a nod. "Have you been waiting for long?" "No." Not a many of many words. I thought while timidly ducking in front of him. From the corner of my eye, I saw the servants rush in our direction. He signalled for breakfast to be brought in. "Uh...Is no one else joining us?" "Your lovely mother went to the temple to pray for you..." The word again was missing but I know he hoped for me to understand. I sunk my teeth on my lower lip, trying not to pull the dried skin off. Suddenly the room made me feel so small, my frame sinking more into the chair. "And your brother is busy with his training. Bless that boy!" "Of course," I muttered under my breath. The servants came in holding silver trays with our napkins and golden cutlery. I thanked them quietly before returning to my father who still has his dark eyes trained on me. "I meant...how unfortunate. Maybe I'll see them tonight at the event." He hummed, pointing to a servant to fill my plate. A nearby servant rushed to my side to do the same but I waved him off with a polite smile, taking the serving fork in my hand. "Samara!" My father gritted his teeth. "We have these people here for a reason. Have you learned nothing in your classes?!" I flinched, recoiling and loosening my grip on the spoon. My neck burned in shame, imagining how Anna, my dear maid would have hidden her face. But fortunately for me, she was busy assisting with the night's events and nowhere to be seen since morning. "I have, Father!" I didn't dare meet his eyes. "I like to do it myself that's all." He curled his fists around the fork, knuckles turning white. "We have been over this. How would a man courting react to you, a royal princess, next in line for the throne, doing a servant's work?" I stayed quiet. "You would ruin this family's reputation. You must remember your etiquette if we are ever going to find a half-decent heir to this kingdom. Do not pull this act tonight or heavens help me..." I closed my eyes, I did not blame my father for his outburst, aware that he is stressed trying to find a well-adjusted Prince to become the predecessor to the throne. It is during arguments like these that I wish I could just ask my father to allow me to take the throne– he is King after all. I was smarter than that though, so, I bit my tongue. "You are right, Father. I apologise." I mustered a tight-lipped smile, trying to de-escalate the situation. "Do not worry. I shall keep that in mind. I am no longer hungry; I shall see you at noon." "Suit yourself." He grunted. *** I picked up a couple of stones and tossed them along the water to skip them. It sank. Of course. I chuckled to myself pathetically. Nothing was going my way. "You never were any good at that, were you?" A deep voice said over my shoulder. I froze, immediately sagging as I heard the teasing voice. He must have snuck away from the sparring grounds. Again. I remained in my spot by the rocks, hands falling by my sides. Eric James. The most trusted and loyal knight of King Augustus. Ever since I was nine I saw him training on the grounds. He must have been twelve—lanky, cheeks sunken, eyes wide but fierce for a boy his age. There has been endless gossip about his origin, stemming from jealousy. I believed him when he said he lost his parents in a freak boat accident and was rescued by our guards. "Fancy seeing you here, Sir Eric. I thought you would be busy training your guards for tonight." I held my breath as he came to stand next to me, clearly towering, taking the stone from my hand. "You didn't answer my question." I rolled my eyes, stepping aside for him to skim the stone. The rock skipped several times—five maybe before sinking into the pond. "Well, now you're just rubbing it in." I could feel his wide grin over my shoulder before turning to face him. The knight looked tired, I thought with a frown. There were bags under the underside of his eyes and the usual rosiness to his cheeks seemed to have dimmed. His smile was still nice, though. "What can I say. Years of practice." "So modest too," I remarked dryly. "And clever. I came running to wish you a happy birthday, your highness." My face perked up, eyes widening. He remembered. The only one who did. I thought within a second. "Thank you. You are the first one to wish. I assume everyone has been so excited about the ceremony that they have forgotten why it is being held." I let out a giggle, though it sounded more self-deprecating than humorous. The exact opposite of what I wanted it to be. My mother would have been the first. I looked at the sky. I had her for only 5 years of my life, those memories now fading slowly. "Not even Your Royal Highness King? Your stepmother? Uh...your stepbrother?" His face shifted to a tight frown. "T-They are busy with the festivities..." "Of course." He schooled his features into a polite smile, aware of the guards on their usual rounds. "Well, Happy Birthday, your highness." "Stop that, will you? I am not a Queen yet." "But you shall be." "We'll see." I snorted. The chances of that happening appeared slim with every encounter with the King. My father only seemed upset and disappointed in me. If he could, he would simply give the throne to my younger brother. He's 15 and training day and night to prove himself worthy. But firstborns are always prioritised. He shuffled around in his long coat pocket, trying to find something. My stomach suddenly felt tight. "I-I actually made you something." He murmured still searching in his pocket. "It's certainly not as fancy as you're used to..." Finally, he pulled out a thick carved, wooden coin. It's beautiful. My palms felt sweaty as I handled the coin, lips twisting. "I-it is incredible. You made this?" "Your dreams...Anna told me that they turned more intense. The guards on duty were also talking about it. I am sorry I heard." Shame crawled under my skin. Ah yes. The nightmares that have been haunting me forever. They started after losing my mother. Growing up I thought I would get better, they would leave me eventually. No. Instead, they only made it harder for me to fall asleep naturally. To sleep I had to drink turmeric milk and put a pinch of herbs prescribed by the doctor. Eric cleared his throat. "This is a charm. Tuck the coin under the pillow before you go to sleep. It will guard you." "Oh...that's so thoughtful of you, Eric." "Anything for you, your highness." *** "A little birdie told me you got a courting gift..." I gasped. "Anna!" "Announce it to the whole kingdom, why don't you? Father would have Eric's head if he believed there was even an ounce of truth to that tale – favourite Knight or not." My maid and confidant simply rolled her eyes. "I am just jesting, your highness. Now come here and sit, you have a bird's nest for hair at the moment." She gestured to sit at the vanity, and I easily complied. Something about Anna combing my hair reminded me of my mother who would brush my hair every night before she died. One of the memories that's still fresh in my mind. "I am nervous they won't like me." Anna stilled before shaking her head, "It's impossible not to like you, Princess Samara. They will all fall in love with you so much so you'll ask me to come relieve you. I know you are ready for this. Believe me." I looked at myself in the mirror, even though I appeared no different I certainly felt different. My father was officially introducing me to the kingdom. On my twentieth birthday. The last time the people saw me was the day my mother passed away. Over the last fifteen years, I had not been allowed to leave the castle grounds. My father stated that because of my state, it would be too dangerous. I had no reason to rebel, so I hadn't. *** As the evening rolled in, dread settled in the pit of my stomach. Anna was unexpectedly called to assist with something in the kitchen. She was reluctant to go but I sent her. They needed as many people as possible anyway. So I was left alone in my quarters—a recipe for disaster. Pulling the edges of my gown and neatly tucking them behind the belt, I sneaked out of the room. The clinking of my heel matched the sound of my racing heart. Lights glimmered as I walked down the gardens and towards the secret exit—something I discovered was unguarded. The dull music from inside the castle echoed around. I took a huge lungful of air as soon as I pushed at the door and stepped out. Then I heard a howl. It's loud and deep. It was faint, distinct and echoed through the rocky path. I was so entranced that I didn't notice shadows looming over me. Not even a second after, I felt a sharp sound slicing through the air, my mouth falling open in a scream. My knees wobbled as something hit me in the back of my head, feet staggered. Then everything went dark. ***