Chapter 41

Claire’s POV

Everywhere I see is darkness. It is a dream, I felt like I had walked for too long.

At first I felt like the darkness was fog which made me feel like it was getting difficult to breathe, my body felt numb even though I walked for so long I didn't feel pain at all, the silence and darkness was peaceful and endless but still it made me feel alert.

Then I saw a flicker of light.

At first the light flickered softly and then I saw many lights flicker and then it grew and I felt the world around me changed completely into something beautiful. Grass beneath my feet. A blue sky above. I saw a big mansion and a beautiful meadow, it felt warm and yet somehow familiar.

I heard a cheerful laughter.

I froze. That sound made me feel emotions which I never knew I had. I slowly turned around and my heartbeat increased before I even understood why it is happening

There they were.

Two figures. A man and a woman. They were sitting in that meadow smiling, the woman held a baby in her arms as the man hugged them both warmly yet protectively. Their laughter mixed with the baby's sweet, innocent giggles.

I watched them for a moment as I stood still. I looked at them confused. Who were they? Why did they feel so achingly familiar?

The woman gently brushed the curl off the baby's face and whispered gently. ”Claire my sweet baby.”

When the woman said my name a wave of shock hit me.

I clenched my fist against my chest. Claire. I heard it right? She called her child Claire. That baby in that woman's arm giggling and smiling, it's me..

I staggered forward, shaking my head. “No… this can’t be…”

But the faces of the man and woman came into focus. That Man had red hair like me, his smile was warm and protective. The woman’s eyes were shining brightly but she had a soft expression in her face, she looked exactly like me, I felt like I was looking at my own reflection. Her hands were elegant and strong but she held the baby lovingly.

And I knew. My parents.

The ones I never remembered, never knew. They were sitting right before me whole, smiling and alive.

Tears blurred my vision before I could stop them. “Mother? Father?” My voice came out soft yet broken.

Neither looked up at me. They couldn’t hear me. It was like I wasn’t really there.

I ran towards them as I fail on my knees next to them and reached out but my hands went through them like I was a ghost.

“No, this can't be!” My voice cracked as I tried again, touching, grabbing, clawing for any contact. But I was only a shadow in my dream untouchable and invisible.

I wanted to scream. To beg them to see me. To talk with with them and tell them how much I missed and wanted them in my life. But no matter how loud I shouted, no sound reached their ears.

Instead, I looked at my mother who held my baby self and gently lifted me into air and the gentle nuzzled her nose against mine. My father gently leaned in and kissed my forehead, his eyes shimmering with pride.

For moment, I let myself memorize this moment. My parents. Alive. Smiling. A part of my life which I always wanted was taken from me before I understood what loss was.

But then suddenly everything changed. The sky darkened.

The laughter which I loved stopped.

My face paled as I saw shadows from the edges of meadow, I saw them emerge, eyes glinted with malice and teeth sharp and bared. A group of rogues.

Dozens of them.

They moved closer to us like predators, they snarled as they got ready to attack.

My father stiffened, pulling my mother and the baby close. My mother’s arms tightened protectively around the child—around me. Panic flashed in her eyes, but her steps were firm as she hurried to the cottage, shoving the door open and slipping inside.

I ran after them, screaming though no one could hear me. “No! Don’t! They’ll kill you! Run! You have to run please!”

But in my mind I knew I will not be able to stop what was going to happen.

My mother rushed inside the mansion with me and went towards a hidden room, with shaky hands she hid me inside the room, she prayed to moon goddess to keep me safe and kissed my forehead.

“stay safe and quiet, my sweet little moon,” she whispered softly.

She left and made sure to close the secret door to keep the baby safe. The door of mansion crashed open.

The rogues entered inside menacingly and snarled. My father roared, shifting into his wolf, fighting them off with all his might. My mother, unyielding and fierce, stabbed one of them with a silver dagger.

I tried to join them. I came between the rogues and my parents and got ready to strike. But I realized was a ghost in this nightmare. As I attacked the rogues I went past them unable to do anything.

“Stop! Please, stop!” I cried out and screamed as I desperately wanted anyone to hear me.

I clawed at the rogues, tried to drag them away, but they didn’t even feel me. Didn’t even see me.

And I had to watch.

Watch as my father was overwhelmed, teeth sinking into him until his wolf form crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Watch as my mother fought until her body gave out, until claws tore across her chest, and she fell beside him.

The rogues’ howls filled the cottage. My desperately screams joined them as my screams turned into sobbing.

“No! Not again! Don’t take them—please—!” But I was not able to do anything to stop it.

Blood covered the floor. My parents laid there motionless in the pool of blood.

I fell on my knees invisible and helpless, I kept on sobbing uncontrollably as I felt my heart breaking piece by piece.

The rogues disappeared like they were never there. Everything turned black and silent again. And then, slowly, my mother’s body stirred.

I looked up and and gasped startled.

She rose in the form of light, she shined the brightest with otherworldly glow. She turned toward me slowly.

And for the first time—she looked right at me.

“Claire, my child.” her voice echoed but it was soothing.

The sound of her voice undid me. I slowly walked towards her. “Mother?”

Her lips curved into a sad smile, her glowing hand reaching out. This time, when she touched me, I felt it. Warm. Real.

“You must stay strong my little moon,” She spoke gently, her voice felt healing and full of warmth. “Don’t let the history repeat itself. What happened to us must never happen to you—or to the ones you love.”

My tears streamed freely. “I don’t understand. Tell me how do I stop it, please I don't want you to leave me again mother.”

Her eyes glistening yet still glowing, there were filled with determination and sorrow. “You have the strength. You are our only hope my child. Always trust our bond, you have our blessings.”

She gently held my wrist and then I felt a searing sensation on my wrist. She let go of my wrist and then I saw a shining silver mark, it was the mark of the Moon itself.

I let out a sharp gasp as a smooth warmth spread through me, I felt a strange power inside me.

Before I could ask what it meant, the world around me began to dissolve. I felt my head getting heavy like I was about to fall unconscious.

Her figure began to disappear but continued to whisper “I love you, my child.” “Mother! Wait! Don’t go!” I cried out trying to grab her.

Her last words echoed as she disappeared completely. “You have to stop the cycle, My child. Save them.”

The light completely blinded me as I covered my eyes with my arms. I felt my body float and move by itself.