The Cursed King

Two

I recoiled and shifted back, wishing to create some space between us. Escaping him was not an option; there was no way out. I felt trapped beneath him, and the thought of making a wrong move sent chills down my spine. It wasn’t as if I wasn’t already teetering on the edge of death.

The wolf-man—let’s call him that—loomed over me, scrutinizing me like a predator eyeing its next meal. The sensation of being at the bottom of the food chain was utterly unsettling, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. If I had known my time was so limited, I would have savored life a bit more.

With a menacing growl, the wolf-man revealed his sharp teeth. I screamed and squeezed my eyes shut. This was it; I was going to die.

“No magic,” he suddenly declared. Magic? What was he talking about?

“Who are you?” he demanded in a voice that sent shivers down my spine. It was more terrifying than anything I had ever encountered, echoing with an otherworldly resonance.

I should be the one asking, “Who are you?” or perhaps “What are you?” How could such a bizarre creature exist? He looked like something ripped straight from a horror film.

*sniff*

Then, he began to sniff me. Do I smell bad? I panicked internally.

Would he devour me if I smelled appealing? What if he had an odd preference for foul scents? He certainly seemed like the type who would clean his territory by consuming me and then expelling me into the cosmos the next day.

Is that all my life amounts to?

*growl*

He certainly relished growling, torturing me psychologically.

*gasp*

Please don’t tell me he’s a sadist who enjoys building suspense before going in for the kill.

I glanced over at him and saw him gripping his head with one hand—or rather, his paw.

“WHO ARE YOU?” he bellowed, slamming his fist into the ground beside me. I trembled in fear, and when I looked at the spot he struck, I nearly lost consciousness.

There was a massive crater—an enormous, terrifying hole in the earth. If he had aimed just a bit to the right, my skull would have been reduced to a million tiny fragments. For him, crushing my head would be as effortless as smashing a watermelon!

His power is truly frightening.

“A human?” I managed to squeak out, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Lies,” he thundered, “humans lack the ability to share their thoughts.”

What is he talking about? The ability to share thoughts? What kind of bizarre nonsense is that? Is it even possible to share thoughts?

He seemed increasingly agitated with me, and before I knew it, his claws were poised to strike.

Jesus, here I come!

I watched in horror as he targeted my head. But just before his claws could reach my neck, he halted.

I stared at him, puzzled. Not that I wanted him to rip my head off; I was simply curious about why he stopped mid-attack. It’s not every day you see a predator spare its prey. Or does he have something else in mind?

“Stop overthinking, for crying out loud! I’m not going to kill you,” he panted. So, he’s capable of more than just growling?

“Are you really not going to kill me?” I asked, seeking reassurance. He nodded in response. I felt a flicker of doubt about his honesty, but for now, I had no choice but to trust him—just a little, just a tiny bit.

“Then can you tell me where I am?” I inquired, eager to understand my surroundings. First, I need to know where I am; only then can I devise a plan to escape—if escape is even an option.

The creature took his sweet time answering my question. I found myself waiting for what felt like an eternity—an entire minute, to be exact. Was my question really that difficult? Or was it a matter of trust? I wouldn’t want to share details about my homeland with a stranger either, but I urgently needed to know where I was so I could plot my escape.

“Moonland,” he finally said, his response brief and to the point. Clearly, he wasn’t one for conversation.

“So, I’m on the moon?” I ventured, only to receive a look from him that practically shouted, “Are you serious?”

“Right. Just because it’s called Moonland doesn’t mean I’m on the moon,” I laughed nervously, feeling the tension knotting in my stomach. Now that I knew he wasn’t going to kill me, I found myself even more on edge. Maybe taking on so many cases involving psychopaths wasn’t the best idea. I began to question why he chose to spare my life.

And here I was again, left with no option but to trust him. He seemed somewhat reliable, or perhaps he was just skilled at concealing his true intentions.

I needed to stop overthinking; it was giving me a headache.

“That’s the Moon. This is Moonland,” he said, gesturing toward something. I followed his gaze and saw the moon glowing brilliantly in the sky. It looked stunningly close and beautiful from this vantage point, but my resentment kept me from appreciating it. Admiring it was the last thing on my mind.

It was that cursed moon that had landed me in this predicament. I cursed silently. If only I hadn’t looked at the moon. If only…

*growl*

The wolf-man growled again.

What now? Had I somehow offended him?

“Don’t disrespect my mother,” he warned, his tone laced with menace. Okay, but when did I disrespect his mother?

“Um—who is your mother?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. He pointed at the moon, and I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“So, your mother is the moon, huh?” I chuckled. “Who’s the dad? The Sun?” I joked, perhaps a bit too freely. I should have kept my mouth shut and taken him seriously. Before I knew it, the creature growled and grabbed me firmly.

"No one disrespects my mother," he bellowed, his grip on my neck tightening to the point where each breath became a struggle. My vision began to fade, and just before I slipped into darkness, he threw me to the ground.

His eyes glowed a fierce yellow. What came from his lips next was a sound that was a mix of a growl and a whimper.

I tilted my head, trying to decipher the odd being before me. Just moments ago, he had been intent on my demise, so why was he now making such a pitiful sound?

Given his intense reaction, it seemed he was sincere about the moon being his mother. I could understand his feelings if that were indeed true. While I didn’t condone his actions, what could I expect from a creature that was part animal? If he bore animal traits, it was likely he possessed animal instincts as well.

"I'm sorry," I said, "I just never imagined the moon could have offspring. I thought you were joking."

Gradually, he calmed, his eyes returning to a dark, somber hue. So, his eyes flash when he’s angry—good to know.

"My mother is the moon goddess, Selene," he revealed.

"Moon goddess?" I echoed, bewildered. A goddess of the moon?

The creature looked at me, astonished by my confusion.

"You humans don’t know about the Moon Goddess?" he asked. I shook my head in response.

"I can’t speak for everyone, but this is the first I’ve heard of a moon goddess," I admitted.

"I’ve never been religious, so I wouldn’t know much about gods and goddesses," I added.

"But do you live here all by yourself?" I inquired, curiosity getting the better of me. Perhaps I shouldn’t have asked; his demeanor shifted, darkening.

I was surprised at my ability to sense his mood. How could I read his expression when his face resembled that of a wolf, devoid of emotion?

I must be losing my mind. Or did I sustain a serious injury when I fell?

"I live alone," he replied, a hint of loneliness lacing his words that tugged at my heart.

I must be losing my sanity if my heart aches for him. I held my chest, feeling it pulse with sorrow for that being.

What is this anguish? I grimaced at the unease.

This isn’t my suffering, I realized. It belongs to him.

~•~