Chapter 16: Luna

　　Luna was woken up at some odd hour. Elena dragged her down to the tavern in the morning to oversee some kind of new training for the Dimling.

　　"We need to see if he`s ready to replace you," Elena said, "Isn`t that what you want?" She was taunting her. Why must her own free will be treated like a game?

　　She hadn`t even finished copying the entire registry from memory yet. Her hands still ached from writing, and her eyes hurt from lack of sleep. Yet, there she was, walking into an alleyway with Elena, meeting up with Solaris and Caden.

　　The two men were chatting when they arrived, but silence washed over them a second later. Caden looked awkward and nervous. He shuffled his feet and moved too quickly, like a scared animal. He kept glancing over at Luna with anxious eyes.

　　They had gathered one street over from the tavern and stood in front of an unmarked hovel. One of the many that travel underground somewhere, but Luna had never assumed one went directly underneath the tavern.

　　"It`s a training ground," Solaris explained, "many Pyromancers outside the order come here to train. Or they used to, back when the Royals were still around. It`s all but abandoned now."

　　Caden and Elena both worked together to open the door to the hovel. She couldn`t help but feel jealous; why must the Dimling be loved so dearly by her sister when she was hated? Has fate forsworn her to an identity of hatred and murder?

　　They followed the staircase down to an enormous cavern below. Lanterns were dangling from the sides of the cave, and multiple doors were cut into the edges of the large room. It smelled of sewage and sweat. It was uncomfortable and had a horrible texture to it. Luna hated it.

　　"So, how do we begin?" Caden asked.

　　Luna immediately left the group, sitting on the floor nearby in one of the dry spots. She noticed it as soon as she walked in. She curled up with her chin on her knees and just watched.

　　The training was dull, so dull that she was glad she never had to go through it. Luna knew she`d be here for days on end watching him train, so the very least she could do was replay memories for herself.

　　Caden was advancing in his Pyromancy. He showcased a few abilities that Elite Kieran showed him. He showed how he could conjure a large blast of flames to launch himself back or how he charged his punches and kicks with fire. He`s such an angry fighter. Every strike he made was fueled with such a burden of rage. He really was like Isabel.

　　He sparred with Solaris, who dodged every attack. Caden was a wild fighter with no precision or thought behind his moves. He just assumed he could overpower his opponent with superior strength. There was no science behind his attacks. There was only power.

　　She watched pensively from her spot, eyes darting from Caden to Solaris to Elena. Her sister was studying his movements with her eyes, and part of Luna knew he would not be ready to replace her today. Despite that, she still considered leaving after this, just to see what Elena would do.

　　"Alright, that`s enough," Elena called, "Caden, I have a spell I want to teach you."

　　His nervousness shattered as if striving for power made him completely forget the danger.

　　"Focus your Heat like a needle in the center of your body," Elena instructed, "If you hold it tightly like you`re squishing your Heat into a tiny tight ball, then let go of it and expand it everywhere throughout your body, you will be able to dash with fire. This is how pyromantic assassins get around during the night, and it`s much easier than the crude way of blasting flames for momentum. However, It drains your body of stamina," Elena said, "So be careful," she glanced at Luna, offering a friendly wave, "Not that Heat will be an issue for you here."

　　"Attempt that for a while. See if you can manage it," Solaris chuckled, then pulled Elena away by the sleeve.

　　Caden stood in the middle of the room, giving it an attempt. Orange flames danced around him as he pushed and pulled at his own magic. Just how exactly does his Pyromancy work? If he can`t channel, how does he know what to do?

　　"I don`t see what the problem is," Elena said.

　　"He`s not ready. You can not have me take him out to kill his own men. I shouldn`t even be here as it is."

　　"You only have to babysit one child. Please, Solaris, it`s not that bad."

　　They were whispering, yet each word felt louder than the last.

　　"He`s going to get himself killed, or worse, caught as a traitor."

　　"You`re going with him for a reason. Someone has to take the fall. Besides, he needs training without her around," Elena said sharply, "and the men I`m having him kill are from the Sanctuary. You hate them, remember?"

　　"I`ll kill them then!"

　　"No, it has to be him."

　　Solaris chewed his lower lip. "Why?"

　　"If he`s going to be the assassin for the job, he`ll have to kill his own men on the way in," she paused, "I can`t compel him or like I do with Luna. If he`s unable to do this, we will miss our chance to bring back to the Sun."

　　I can`t compel him like I do with Luna. I can`t compel him. I can`t. I can`t. I can`t.

　　Luna pulled her legs tighter to her chest, and having her theories confirmed threw her emotions into whack. Channel someone, anyone, to feel something else. She pulled at Renna, attempting to draw her wisdom from her past.

　　"What If I choose to be your assassin?" Solaris asked.

　　"You can`t. I need you somewhere else."

　　"What if I find someone to replace-"

　　"No, Solaris," Elena put her foot down, "It has to be either him or her. No second choices."

　　"Why?"

　　"Because Isabel deemed it so, I promised her I would bring back the sun, and I always keep my word."

　　She lifted her head off of her knees. Tears fell down her face, but they were not her own. Renna`s memories tore through her mind. She stopped; it was harder to channel her than to cope with her pain.

　　"And what of your kid sister?"

　　"What about her?"

　　"Will you let her go?"

　　"Please, she`d be nothing without me."

　　NO! You promised! Luna thought. She began to panic, her hands brought up to her head, covering her ears. No, she had to listen! She needed to know!

　　"I thought you always kept your word," Solaris inquired.

　　Elena scoffed, "I will let her go if Caden is prepared enough."

　　"And when will that be?"

　　She turned away from Solaris, "I don`t know."

　　Luna tore her attention from them back to the Dimling.

　　Caden was practicing intently. He would burst into flames, then they would all vanish. He lacked control; it was either all or nothing. He probably couldn`t perform that ability unless-

　　Luna was wrong. The Dimling had vanished into flames and appeared next to Solaris and Elena.

　　"So, what are we talking about?" he said, smiling, "Some new mission? Some new spell? This one is fun!" He danced around like a child before vanishing into flames and appearing in another location. He teleported around a few times before collapsing on his face, heaving in breaths of air.

　　"That ability still weakens you," Elena exclaimed, "Don`t spam the damn trigger. And don`t try to teleport too far."

　　She turned back to Solaris, and Luna noted his disapproval.

　　"Why must you teach him these things?"

　　"Look at him. He`s going to surpass all of us. Do you know how quickly people like him improve? If only you knew what he had to do to obtain such power."

　　Solaris looked to the floor. "I am aware."

　　More time passed. She felt like just another rock in the room, forced to be here and be silent. She couldn`t even say anything to the Dimling. Yet what would she say? He was the one who was cruel to her.

　　"Caden, I`m asking you to go out with Solaris tonight. I need you to kill this man. He`s an Elite named Renault of the First Quadrant."

　　Elena`s voice caused Luna to look up. She was giving him one of her missions. He was really going to replace her. She wanted to smile, but something devilish clawed at the back of her mind.

　　Ferris`s warning was that she could not let Caden go dark. I don`t want him to be like me& she thought.

　　"No," Luna piped up. "I can go tonight."

　　Caden opened his mouth to speak. Probably some jeer, some jest, some hurtful, awful words were brewing in his mind. But he closed his mouth instead. He looked hurt, pensive, like a puppy who had just been kicked.

　　"Sorry, sister," Elena said, "this is not your mission."

　　Luna got up and approached all three of them. "I can go. We don`t need Caden to slaughter his own men."

　　"We do if you want your freedom," Elena said. She got closer to Luna. "That is what you want, right?"

　　She said nothing in reply.

　　"I can do it," Caden said. "I agreed to this at the meeting. My only condition is I need to see evidence of Renault`s malevolence. If he`s not deemed evil, I refuse to kill him."

　　"Oh, trust me," said Solaris. "He`s plenty evil."

　　That was a new look in the boy`s eyes. What of his honor? The killing of innocents was what caused him to hate her to begin with. Luna felt like she was looking at her reflection. She must argue further: she didn`t want him to become like her. . . even if she was being compelled to desire friendship with him, even if she was being compelled to heed Ferris`s warning, she didn`t care.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it`s taken without the author`s consent. Report it.

　　"But I-"

　　"Silence," Elena said, causing Luna to flinch away, "That`s enough out of you. Just go look pretty and sit in your spot."

　　She turned, offering nothing else in reply.

　　"Don`t talk to her like that," Caden snapped. "She`s your sister, not some pet."

　　"What?" Elena said, truly shocked. "You wouldn`t understand, you-"

　　"No. I understand. I might not like that girl, but she is your sister. The least you could do is treat her like a person," he paused, crossing his arms, "I would never have treated Isabel that way."

　　Luna sat back down on the floor and noticed Solaris. The man was forcing back a smile of pride.

　　"She`s not Isabel," Elena stammered.

　　"Not to me," he said, "but she should be to you."

　　Why is he defending me?

　　Elena looked down at her feet, embarrassed, then glanced back at Luna. "Fine. I am sorry. Please state your case, sister."

　　Luna`s jaw dropped. "Really?"

　　She nodded.

　　Luna panicked. What could she say now? She had to say something, anything! "I just thought I could do the dirty work. Like I`ve always done."

　　"But it`s not a big deal," Caden argued, "I`m going to have to do this anyway, right? Tell you what, if we deem that Renault is not evil and Elena still wants him dead, then you can do it. Or. . ." Caden touched his chin as if realizing his argument was flawed.

　　"Nothing to worry about," Solaris interjected, "this Elite is the scum of the earth. I`ve met the guy. He`s practically the self-proclaimed Warden of the Sanctuary. Not fun to be around."

　　Why was he suddenly on Elena`s side?

　　She was too afraid to argue further. "Very well."

　　"Why challenge me if you didn`t agree with her anyway?" Elena asked.

　　"I wasn`t challenging her idea. I was challenging your authority to let her speak."

　　No more words were said to Luna. Solaris and the Dimling left the underground hovel together, leaving Luna alone with her sister.

　　"Anything you want me to do?" Luna asked.

　　"No. Not tonight. Do as you wish."

　　She gasped, not just in surprise but like she was struggling to breathe.

　　"You know I care for you, right?" Elena asked.

　　Luna said nothing. She did, however, finally channel Isabel.

　　"I mean it. You do mean a lot to me."

　　I don`t think that`s true. Luna thought. Or maybe Isabel thought it for her, and she simply couldn`t tell the difference between her own thoughts and her predecessor`s.

　　* * *

　　Luna was leaving today. She had already made the decision. After getting up to her room, she immediately started to pack a bag. Elena had shown weakness enough to possibly have Luna convince her that she didn`t need to stay any longer. Caden was her assassin now. He and Solaris were out on their first mission.

　　She shoved things into a bag: a box of sewing supplies, a few fabrics, and satchels of flint marks she had stolen for Elena but never given to her. A journal, two books, and assortments of clothes. She had many belongings in her mess of a room, but she couldn`t take everything.

　　She threw open the doors to her balcony and stepped outside. With defiant eyes, a voice stopped her just as she was about to take a leap.

　　"What do you think you`re doing?"

　　Elena. She wouldn`t stop her this time.

　　"Leaving."

　　"And why do you think you get to do that?"

　　Luna spun around, "Because you have Caden now," she stomped back into her room, "You have your assassin or pet or plaything or whatever the hell you keep me around for. Caden`s replaced me. I`m done working with you."

　　"Come downstairs with me, let`s have a talk."

　　It hit her like a wave like Elena had buried her alive. The compelling power, whatever it was.

　　Have you tried fighting back? Caden`s voice echoed in her mind. Of course, she has! She always did! Even now! She-

　　"No."

　　Elena raised an eyebrow, "Really? You`re telling me no?"

　　"I have no desire to go downstairs with you."

　　"But you do have a desire to make me happy. I am your sister, after all, so come on, let`s talk. I`ll pour you a drink," Elena said, and then she left.

　　Luna followed. Every step she took to the tavern was heavy. She felt like she was walking through water. But when she arrived downstairs into the empty room, she just stared at the door to freedom.

　　"So, you think your time is done, and you`re ready to leave?" Elena asked. She walked behind the bar and pulled out two drinking glasses. She pointed to a nearby table, and Luna sat down.

　　"Why am I needed? Caden is out right now doing what you force me to do. He`s doing it of his own accord."

　　"Oh? What makes you say that?"

　　"You can`t compel him like you can others. He`s your weakness."

　　Elena glared angrily at her, "Only for now," she said, "but soon he will be under my spell just as you are." She poured two drinks and sat across from Luna. She handed one over, and Luna did not touch it.

　　"I`m not necessary for your plan any longer."

　　"Oh, but see, Caden is exactly why I need you around. You`re still required because he is unwilling to fall under my spell." She crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair.

　　The way she talked was different. She was no longer masking her innocence. Luna knew, at that moment, that Elena was her true self. Evil.

　　"I have another job for you," Elena said.

　　"I won`t do it."

　　"Oh, but you will. Erodan`s requested my presence tomorrow, and you and Caden are going in my stead," she smiled, "In fact, you`ll be doing whatever I say until this job is over. Did you really think I`d give up an asset like you before we are done?"

　　Luna was crushed. "You`re not letting me go?"

　　"Not before the job is finished. That was never on the table at all. If I let you go, you`ll be hurt, and the world will consume you. I am, in fact, keeping you safe under my wing. You couldn`t survive a single night out there without me." She sipped her drink.

　　"I did before."

　　"No, you didn`t," she snapped, slamming her cup on the table. "You had Freya to watch over and protect you. You`re nothing unless you have someone watching over you constantly. Where would you go? If I told you to leave right now, what would you do?"

　　Luna couldn`t tell if she was more shocked at the question or the fact that Elena was completely right. Before she met Freya, she had nearly died on her own. Was she truly this incapable?

　　"I. . . would," she paused, stumbling over her words, "I`d go to Talvira."

　　"And do what?"

　　"Make a fabric shop."

　　"With what money?"

　　"I have money&"

　　"Then what?"

　　"Sell goods. Create cloaks like this costume," she gestured to her outfit, "I`d. . . make money acting in plays! I`d sign up for the parades! I`d do art pieces! I`d," she paused, biting her lip as her voice cracked, "I`d do anything and everything to get away from you."

　　"And what of the world? What of your gifts? Will you not use them?"

　　Luna sighed, "No."

　　"You`d forsake Isabel, who granted you this divine gift with her dying breath?" Elena stood up, "You are so ungrateful." She began to pace the room, her hands behind her back. "You don`t understand what you have. You`re so single-minded. So focused on the "now" and not on the future. Look, we`ll never have to speak again once the Sun is in the sky. I care not for our antics, and you`re a horrible work partner. But you`re my sister, and I do care for you. So just stick around, look pretty, and help me fulfill Isabel`s dream."

　　"I refuse."

　　Elena stopped, "You don`t know anything about the powers you wield. About what you can do with them."

　　"And you do?" Luna crossed her arms, shifting her position to be more comfortable.

　　Find control, she thought, just find a way out.

　　"Of course I do. You`re good at killing people, but Isabel could do hundreds of things," Elena`s eyes showed bright, "She could have saved the world. She was a true wielder of the Tigress`s powers."

　　Luna got to her feet, "You want to know what I think? I think you want this power of mine. I think you treat me this way because you`re jealous of me. I thought that all this time you wanted me to be Isabel, but the reality is you want to be Isabel. And you`ll never be like her. You`re nothing."

　　Elena fumed, clenching her fists and spinning around with an exerted expression, "You ungrateful slag. . ."

　　Luna viscerally reacted, scrunching her face up and glaring at Elena. Her hands reached for her daggers, "You must have hated her if you treat me this way."

　　"You barely knew her!" Elena snapped, taking steps toward Luna. Her movements grew more frantic, and her words broke as she spoke, "Isabel was . . . everything! She was everything to me! My best friend, my greatest loss, and the most beautiful soul the world had ever known. Don`t speak of her as if you knew her! She loved me, and I loved her."

　　"And yet you live every day knowing that she picked me over you," Luna said.

　　Something broke inside Elena; her left eye twitched, and she charged. Luna dodged her punch easily as Elena obliterated a table in the tavern. She fell to the floor from the impact.

　　"You stupid bitch! She didn`t pick you! It was a fluke! A miscalculation! A mistake! You`re an accident! You were a cripple with a dying body! You were useless! You`re still useless! You will never be the Tigress." She struggled to get up from the floor. Her hair was messy, her eyes bloodshot and full of rage.

　　"Where`d all your strength go?" Luna said, "The fact is," she bent down, towering over Elena, "if you didn`t have this hold over me, you`d be nothing. I make you stronger. You don`t want me to leave because then you`d be weak."

　　"Enough!" she shouted, picking up a wooden leg from the table and throwing it at Luna.

　　She pulled herself out of the way with Moonlight.

　　"I am not weak," she got up from the floor, "you know nothing! I`m the only reason you`ve not been killed! I kept you alive when you were sick. I kept you sane when your emotions nearly tore you apart." She took a step forward; her entire demeanor was pure rage. She`d snapped, "I saved you. The very least you can do is listen to me and help me do the one thing Isabel wanted! Why must you always defy me?" she wailed, flapping her arms around like an estranged child.

　　If Caden were here, perhaps he would think they really were sisters. Tantrums may run in the family.

　　Luna pulled her bag from the floor and headed toward the door, "I`m done with you," she said.

　　Elena screamed. She didn`t speak words. She just screeched.

　　Luna had found strength and willpower within her soul. And Elena hated that. She hated that Luna was leaving, that she had won. A single step forward, hand on the door, pull it open, and-

　　"Stop," Elena demanded.

　　And suddenly, it was gone. It was all taken from her. The power, the strength, the ability to fight. Elena reached somewhere with her and ripped it all out. It was a terrible sensation, as if her skin was being torn from her bones.

　　My hand is on the door handle. Just pull it open. Just go. Luna told herself.

　　"Come back here."

　　She turned, doing as told. Elena`s face had dropped again. She`d composed herself.

　　"I told you there would be dire consequences if you kept up this defiance."

　　Luna opened her mouth to reply.

　　"Do not say another flaming word," she said, "put your bag down."

　　Luna obeyed.

　　"Roll up your sleeves."

　　She obeyed.

　　"Pull out your daggers."

　　She obeyed.

　　"Cut your arms."

　　She obeyed. The knife pierced her flesh, a long vertical cut. Blood fell. Moonlight healed it.

　　"Again."

　　She obeyed.

　　"Again!"

　　More blood. Luna couldn`t speak; she couldn`t think. Everything was crimson. Her legs swayed, and her body shook to its core. Every ounce of strength she had was screaming within her not to hurt herself further, yet she couldn`t shake the horror that part of her wanted this.

　　"Don`t heal this time."

　　Luna split her own flesh; the blood dripped down her arms. It was hot and sticky. It was dangerous. It made her light-headed. She felt uneasy, sick. Her vision blurred. The blood. It kept flowing. How could she stop it? What was happening?

　　"Don`t heal. Not until I say," Elena snapped.

　　Luna`s mind was spinning. Was she being forced to kill herself? What was the purpose of this? So much blood. All over her arms, her hands, the floor. Her life was stained crimson. Her heart poured from her arms. She collapsed to the floor and wept. She looked up to her big sister. Wasn`t she supposed to protect her?

　　"Beg," Elena demanded.

　　Her heart pounded in her ears. With each pulse, she felt more blood leave her body.

　　"P-please," Luna`s voice was weak, hoarse. It was like she was suddenly a child begging for water again. She needed help; she had no control. Every ounce of strength she had was gone.

　　"Heal."

　　Moonlight washed over her completely. It closed the wounds on her arms; the pain subsided. The numbness faded. Her light-headedness was gone.

　　Luna panicked. Adrenaline ripped through her. She jumped to her feet, out of the pool of her own blood, and sprinted to the sink behind the bar. She grabbed a sponge and wiped her arms. Anything to get the blood off! Get it away! She couldn`t bear to see it. Tears fell. She was sobbing. Was she screaming? She couldn`t tell. She wasn`t fully conscious. So much blood. Her blood.

　　She hated blood. Memories flowed through her every time she`d seen blood. It was haunting her. The ghosts of her victims ripped at her skin; it was not a self-inflicted wound. It was them. She kept hearing screams. Was it her own? Was she screaming?

　　She continued to scrub.

　　"You know," Elena said, sounding much calmer, "All the water in the world won`t wash the blood from your hands."

　　Luna decided that it was then that she heard herself cry out. It was then she completely broke. She tumbled to the floor. Every piece of what had just happened was carved so deep into her memory that she knew she`d be watching it without desiring to.

　　She collapsed onto her side, pulling her legs to her chest. Her breathing was frantic, and she tore the mask from her face, throwing it aside. She wiped her eyes, blood. Blood on her hands. No, she got it off, didn`t she?

　　I`m awful at keeping my promises, huh? A memory played on a loop in her mind. Suddenly, she was with Freya again, crying and in pain.

　　You shouldn`t promise impossible things, Lune, Freya`s voice. Luna reached out, grasping at the memory. Freya`s face, her kind smile, her dark hair, her glowing skin. She wanted to see her again.

　　"Who`s weak now?" Elena said, ripping her from her memory. She lifted Luna up by her hair, "Don`t you dare forget who is in charge of you. Do not defy me ever again." She slammed Luna`s head into the ground.

　　You`re a good person. Freya`s voice called out to her.

　　"You`re nothing," Elena said. She raised her hand, flames sparking from the center of her palm.

　　Luna closed her eyes, curling up tighter against the floor. She knew that if she released that spell, it would burn her alive. The sound of it was terrifying like a slumbering volcano waiting to erupt. She waited for her sister to kill her. She glanced up, meeting her eyes. The flames grew hotter, but Elena held back.

　　She was shaking, struggling. Her face was split in half, anger and sorrow. She was fighting with herself. Elena grabbed her own wrist just as the flames spilled out. They scattered across the tavern. She snapped her fingers, absorbed the heat, stormed out of the building, and slammed the doors behind her.

　　Luna curled up into a ball on the floor, "Please&" she prayed, in the softest voice she could, "If there is a God. . . please take me far away from this place," her voice cracked, "please help me. . ."

　　She lay silent for the rest of the night, replaying the memories of everyone she had ever killed.