Chapter 5 Untitled Chapter

Eliana POV

I still remember how my sister Paris was. She barely talked, but she was always there—I mean always there. Whenever I was in trouble or in my room, she was always there.

Paris had this jealousy that she never showed, but I only noticed it when I asked her to do something and she refused.

"Paris, can you help me get Ser Derrick? Pluto isn't feeling well," I said in a panic.

She looked at my cat and turned her head away. "He has nine lives; he can survive it," she said with no care or worry.

I had to take Pluto to the vet with the help of Ser Derrick.

On the day of Grandma's death, I cried and fell ill. Mother and Father took care of me. I asked Paris to bring me Pluto, but she came back without him, saying he fell into a well and died.

I cried, and Mother promised to get me another one.

After my recovery, I went to my favorite spot—the one I always went to with Pluto. Paris came behind me, mocking me. She had an evil smile on her face, and I wondered why she smiled that way.

People always told me how silly and stubborn Paris was, even right in front of her. She would cry and report them to Father. My father knew Paris and would apologize to her whenever she came to report, but he always cautiously told her to be obedient.

Ever since my rapid hair growth, Paris remained calm. She barely visited me, and only when my mother forced her to.

Sometimes, Paris stayed at the doorway, refusing to close the door whenever my mother visited me. She said I was cursed and left the door open so Mom could run whenever I tried to curse her, too.

My mother tried to convince her that I was her sister, but she wouldn't agree, saying her sister died with Pluto.

I didn't mind her, knowing full well she was just a cranky little girl—my sister.

I never loved her less. We didn't share the best sisterhood, but at least we had something in common, like reading books and writing.

I missed her so much. If only I could see her again, but Father sent me away to die.

My heart melted. What will Ser Derrick do when he hears I was sent to die? And Mother, what will she do? Something in me melted.

I dreamt of Grandma again. This time, we both stood in front of an old temple filled with trees and flowers. Everywhere was beautiful, with birds and animals roaming around.

"Grandma!" I hugged her so tight.

"My little unique queen, how are you?" She smiled, holding my cheeks and kissing my forehead.

Her soft, warm hands made me cry. "Grandma, I don't know what's wrong with me," I broke down in tears.

"Shh, my dear. Your story has just begun. You are destined to be something great, something powerful. You are to help your legacy and bring peace to the world, for chaos is coming. War is coming, Eliana." This was the first time Grandma had called me by my name.

She rested her forehead against mine and sang her favorite song.

I felt peace and ease.

We stood at the temple door.

"Grandma, why do I have this curse?" I raised my hand.

"Curse?" She laughed softly while holding my hand. "Our bloodline is this curse you're talking about," she said, standing up and walking to a wall close to the door.

There was a painting of a fox and a human. "The Nine-Tailed Fox has been part of our bloodline. We are its descendants. Long before I was born, people called her a curse because she was different."

"Who is she?" I asked her, looking at the lady on the wall who had nine tails behind her.

"She was the first one to be given the gift. People cursed her for being different, and they chased her away until she saved them from the monsters," she said, pointing to each drawing.

"Monsters like this underworld I am in?" I asked in a panic.

"Yes, child. Before then, monsters roamed everywhere in the world, chasing and killing humankind. But the Luna saved them and made a bargain with the Alpha Lord. After the great fight between them, they promised no one would cross paths. The human world would never see any monsters, nor would the monsters see any humans."

"What happened to her?"

"She gave her life for the people. There was a great illness roaming in the human world, and she offered her immortality to help save her people."

"She married a human and gave birth, and that's how our bloodline came to be. But after four generations passed without another Luna, our ancestors believed that she was never real. People forgot her and her story, and humans no longer believed in monsters," Grandma said in a weak, sad tone.

"But you are here, gaining the full powers of the Nine-Tail

ed Fox," she said, holding my hands.