I'll Leave When You Stop Loving Me

on Sasha's arm had blazed again last night, silver-blue fire, alive and violent. Mama Liana had seen it. S

deep in the sanctum where no lie could

. Mama Liana

t in the center, carved with runes so old

ama Liana sa

earth mourning. Inside was a thick, ancient tome bound in what looked l

iana whispered. "No one has touc

ers. A symbol burned into view a crescent moon wrapped in

a Val

the twin eclipse. Blood of the Moon

clutching her chest.

and fear. "Your real name, child. You are Lunara, daughter

ked. Sasha's bre

d the truth with so

acks who feared the prophecy. They feared you. It was said, 'She

man realm himself. He laid you at the steps of an orphanage. You were a baby swadd

ate, find her. Hide her until

ths. "No... no. I suffered for a man who wasn't even my father. I

e ans

rned a

s voice chased after

d a hand, her eyes n

ice low, almost reverent. "Let her

or the cold biting her toes. She ran until she reached the edge of the woods-unt

near the water, sobbing. Her

do they want me dead? Why doe

of the river began to shimmer, not ripple, sh

cries

as moving i

e a shape graceful,

, her eyes glowing opalescent. Where legs should be, there was a massive tail black with hints of obsidian blue, adorned

ze, unabl

e the water's surface, h

.. you'v

gs trembling. "Who are you

your father once. More th

se to give the moon's legacy to you. A child.

d away. "Yo

I have it, I'll rise again-queen of sea and moon. But if you keep

her stomach. "W

phine floated closer, her voice soft, seduc

d. "How do you know

ed. "Because I am power

her wrist, where the charm bracelet

er, twig

nto the clea

pun a

she wa

d, eyes wide. "Who

d back to

mermaid

older. The riv

," Sasha whispered.

tly. "There's no one h

the bracelet. She... she said the moon would kil

ened. "She's try

ain-gold, silver, blue. Her mark flared. The

oice whispere

e... I will n

s later, breathless. "Get

s arms. She was shaking, whispering things abo

emple, they b

ds. A flame circle. Symbols

cestors. On the old g

oke the

ugh the air inhuman and furious. The windows shatt

ne was

t dest

psed into R

mark on her arm glowed li

red, breathless and broke