Luna Rising

TWENTY-NINE

Castle Luna de Argent - Reality

I huddled myself, facing away from anyone who had approached me. After Ingrid and the other queens left the room with a wailing, Bibi wanted to stay longer. She's so cute it makes me giggle. After the queens left, a girl with pink hair and a boy with blue fur; who looked identical to her entered my room along with a man wearing a blindfold. Behind them was another girl who didn't look the part of the group. There is a large dog by her side and a giant. Those two got me scared. It almost made me want to run, but I bet they would chase after me once I left.

After staying with me for a long time, I learned their names; Saye and Arlo are twins, and Jippis is their older brother. Camila is the normal-looking girl, Kaze is the large dog, and Takkar is the giant. I was initially scared of them, but when Kaze approached me as he changed his size to that of a puppy and flashed his cute puppy eyes, I couldn't help but hug him. I got to know this group of people, and my fear of them faded. Although they don't look like ordinary people with different hair colors, eyes, and species, except for Camila, I'm not afraid of them.

I'm having a good time chatting with them, and I learned much about who they are. Saye, Arlo, and Jippis are demons. I thought demons were scary and ugly looking, red with horns, and had a snake-like tongue, always red and surrounded by fire to represent hell that wants to eat your soul. You always see them on Halloween posters or costumes; Saye, Arlo, and Jippis don't look like that. They don't look scary at all. I feel like they came out of a comic book, like a superhero.

Then there is Camila, older than me, and a werejaguar. I've never met another shifter before, let alone a person who can change into a Jaguar. Camila told me she was born in Brazil in the Amazon rainforest. I watched Rio and asked if it was as beautiful as that cartoon movie. She said I would instantly love it as she smiled at me. She's a beautiful girl and friendly. I got used to Takkar and Kaze's closeness as I played with them. I was thrown in the air like a rocket ship feeling the air, and rode on Kaze as if I were on a roller coaster. He's just so fast, like lightning. I had so much fun I never had. Takkar maybe is extensive and an ogre, but he's adorable and gentle. Kaze is like a big dog who loves belly rubs. I couldn't get enough of their silliness.

After being stuck in the room all day and meeting strange people, I finally needed fresh air to ease my nerves. I have not seen the handsome man whom Ingrid called Dominic after he gave me lunch. Surprisingly, he and Nick have the same name and the same parents. I never knew Alpha Marcus and Luna Lisa had an older son. They never mentioned him. I wasn't sure why they didn't tell me they had another son, but it's probably because he has his pack somewhere. Big Dominic and Little Dominic look precisely alike; they have the same color hair and eyes. It's like seeing his younger and older version of him, no matter how doubtful I am. But the difference is Big Dominic is much more excellent than Little Dominic.

Little Dominic...Nick.

Crouching down as I stay away from the others to have myself alone, I grab a stick off the ground and use it like a pencil to swirl my hand around as I draw on the floor. I rest my chin on my knee as my mind is adrift.

No matter the distraction from Saye and the other people, my mind always drifts to thinking of Nick.

I keep thinking about him. I may have found a fun place, but without Nick with me, I still feel lonely. I know he still hates me for what happened with Leah. I wanted to talk to him and explained I had never tried to drown her. But will he listen to me?

The glare as he stares at me with those sharp eyes tells me he will never forgive me for hurting one of his friends.

No matter how much he hates me, I can never put myself to hate him. I know deep down Nick cares about me. It is just Leah is the first to meet Nick.