Luna Rising

SIXTY EIGHT

Hey, all you readers,

I'm sorry for the late update on LUNA RISING. Much has been happening for the two months, like breaking my hand. That was so painful, and I couldn't write or do my other job. I had to stay home and recover. But when I was about to return to my stories, I had so much work to finish at my other job.

I apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for being so patient, and back to the story.

The portal brought everyone to where I had asked the Fairy Chief to take us.

"Tell me why we are here again?" Camila asks as she gazes up at Castle Luna De Argint.

"Because Cam, I promised Nick's grandfather that I teach him and his men to fight ferals."

"Haven't they fought them before, even before we are born? Why ask you?"

I sighed.

Camila is becoming antsy right now that we are back at the place where I was accused of murder. When I was taken to be interrogated by the Elders, she held back her anger. Luckily, Clayton was holding her back.

Camila had experienced something I went through, and it almost released her inner darkness.

I need to do something about her powers before someone gets hurt.

Michael squirmed in my arms before going back to Slumberland.

"Camila, we won't stay here long," I assured her without making her uncomfortable. "The ferals they fought long ago are different. Demir creates these ferals from his magic; they are twice as powerful and dangerous. If the Elders and the others knew of their weaknesses, then they could fight at ease."

The young were-panther crosses her arms and pout.

"Cam, it will be fine," Clayton says with his arm around her shoulders but is flicked off by Camila.

"I still don't trust those Elders, even if one of them is your boyfriend's grandfather." Camila growls. "You already know my story, Lippy. That day when I saw you being falsely accused, it reminded me-"

Camila paused, realizing traumatic memories from her pride. She took a step back and hugged herself. They see her as a bad omen because she's the only black panther in her pride. Her sister Fatima told me how other kids would glare at her with such hatred, and Camila, who has done nothing wrong, isolated from everyone.

Her mother, the chief, said black panthers get into a frenzy that they forget who they are and attack anyone nearby. And it only happens during a Blood Moon. If I remembered my calendar before everything that had happened, the Blood Moon was on Camila's birthday. I'm worried on her eighteen birthday, something terrible will happen. I only know a little of Camila's ability under the Blood Moon, but while I'm here, I can ask Bisera, who knows everything, especially about curses.

"Camila," I hand Michael to Dominic before facing her. I cup her face and a small trinket of tear from her eye rain down.

While living with me, I never asked about that traumatic experience because it happened when she was a child. Camila will have to relive it if she tells me.

I only have a couple of months before her eighteen birthday. I may not have much time, but I will prevent her from turning into something dangerous.

"It's not your fault," I tell her. I was wiping a tear before it fell. "I know you experienced something horrible as a child. You were just a child."