Chapter Eight - Written Truth
LIORA
The palace library was silent, save for the crackling of a lone candle and the slow rustle of parchment beneath my fingers. The scent of aged paper ink and faintly smoldering embers wrapped around me, but it did little to quiet my thoughts.
I sat in a high-backed chair near the window. moonlight filtering through the glass in silver ribbons. Outside, the world was asleep; inside, I was anything but my dream still clung to me. The fear couldn't make me sleep.
The dark voice, curling at the edge of my mind, calling my name in a way that made my soul feel brittle, as if it recognized something in me that I did not.
The soft creak of a door opening broke my thought. I straightened slightly as a figure stepped inside, the candlelight catching on the deep violet fold of Kaira's gown. Her blonde hair was in loose waves down her back, and her grey eyes gleamed with quiet intent.
''You look like you've seen a ghost.'' she said, then I huffed, a soft laugh setting the book down; I hadn't truly been reading aside from then. She said again, "You seem lost in thought. Did I interrupt them?” She said her voice was smooth and unhurried.
Finally, I lifted my gaze to see the young woman stepping in. ''Sort of I was only looking…'' I paused then change the topic, ''There are a lot of books here; even if I take my time, I won't finish them.''
Kaira hummed in agreement, moving towards one of the tall shelves. ''This library holds more than just history,'' she said, searching through the books. She continued, ''Some of these books tell truths people would rather forget.''
''What kind of truth?'' I asked curiously.
She pulled a book from the shelf and held it out. Its cover was blackened with age; the gold lettering had faded out but was still legible. ''My mother's book. It has the account of witches, over generations, and different types of witches and witchery practices," she said, glaring at the book.
''Your mother was a witch?''
''My grandmother, she was a helix-marked witch, and this book was made by her,'' she walked and sat beside me. ''Then what about your mother… Where's she?” I asked.
''Since Cassius's birth, we don't know what happened to her.'' I held the book and saw the name "Helix marked with Never heard of them before." Kaira smirked, "I've heard little about them. They dwell between Lykos and Vaeloria.”
''Vaeloria?''
"Yes, Vaeloria. That's the main kingdom of witches. The Helix-marked witches are born during the time of eclipse, and they are touched by something different, dangerous. Then my mind flashes back to the nightmare I had.”
''Their powers were unlike any other, woven into their own very blood; their magic was unpredictable,and fun fact they can take your pain, if they love you. Heal and care deeply but they destory without thinking twice'' she said.
''Then what happened to them?'' her grey eyes glinting in the dim light. ''They were hunted. Feared. Some say they vanished; others believe their blood still lingers in forgotten bloodlines, while others say their souls turned monstrous and were caged in the Abyss. She paused then added, "They are rare nowadays in this kingdom. I don't know about Vaeloria.”
I glanced back at the book. Something in Kaira's tone unsettled her. ''Do you believe the stories?'' I asked, then she smiled but didn't reach her eye. ''I believe stories that are often built on truth, buried, twisted, but never fully erased,'' she said.
I traced a symbol of the book's cover, a spiral, etched in faded gold. ''And what about the other book?'' I asked. Kaira leaned back, her gaze flickering over the shelves.
''Stories of war waged in secrets, of rulers whose names were struck from history, of beings older than the kingdom itself''
I hesitated before asking, ''And what about the werewolves?'' she smirked. ''Werewolves have their own way of finding their truth, and it's not found in books.''
''Where?''
''In Lunvaris. Most assume werewolves are nothing more than creatures bound by instincts, driven by the moon's call," she said. "But some… some are different," she added.
I frowned. ''How are they different?'' Kaira met my gaze. ''Some can control the shift while some can't according to my research,'' her voice lower now, laced with something unreadable.
''Those who can't control the shift are feared and dangerous because they don't respond to the moon's call. They shift anytime especially when they're angry or have strong desire to kill that moment.'' A chill ran down my spine. ''Could it be Kieran?'' I thought. ''No, no, no one knows his curse.'' I quenched
''Anything that defies its own nature is considered the curse. Those werewolves are abominations. Although they are very strong and unbeatable.”
''You speak of them as if you know them.'' Kaira smiled. ''I speak for those who know the weight of being different,'' she said, then added, ''Read carefully, Lady Liora. Some stories have a way of revealing more than you bargained for.'' She said then stood up.
Kaira left the library, leaving me alone with the weight of forgotten history pressing against my palms.
Kaira really surprises me; although she is proud, most times rude, and beautiful just like every princess is meant to be, she is sharp-witted, with most of these histories.
I could sense her loneliness when she spoke, being the only girl among four brothers has really given her tough times.