Crescent (Book 1)

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A quiet hum fills my ears, and I squint at the flickering chandelier overhead. Cold air whistles from somewhere in the room, and from where I'm sitting propped against a glass wall, I realize I'm not at the castle anymore. The low hum, a slow chug, is louder as I fasten upright- just as a door opens beside me.

Two soldiers in uniform step inside. Ajax's look is detached as he shoves the other soldier forward, only I realize it isn't a soldier at all. She freezes when she sees me. "Brenna?"

My heart stalls. "Mom!" I don't stop myself from running, from grabbing hold of her and squeezing until I can't. She smells vaguely like lavender and mint, like the distant memory of home. Real. This is real. My arms are numb from holding onto her, and her hands are soft as they stroke my hair. She pulls back, gripping my shoulders with water-filled eyes.

"Mom." I shake my head in disbelief the longer I look at her. I flex my fingers around her shoulders. I flex them again, gripping the material of her uniform as if at any moment she might slip through my fingers. "W-Where is Rosie? Dad? Are you okay??"

Her hand is at my cheek, and water swells in her eyes again. "We're fine, sweetheart. And you're okay..." her brown hair is tousled, and dried blood is matter at her skull. She sees my eyes wandering over her face and quickly shakes her head. "I'm okay. I didn't know where they were taking me. They drugged me and brought me here."

My voice is hoarse. "Mom... I'm so sorry-"

"Not here, sweetheart." Her eyes narrow at Ajax behind us, and I know that any second with her could be my last. "Not now." She's here. She's real. My eyes burn as I memorize every detail. "Listen to me. We don't have much time. Brenna, everything you know... is going to change. Your father..."

My chest tightens, and I'm shaking my head, not letting the words sink in. "I know..." I can't force myself to say the words. To speak the truth of Ceth's words aloud.

Her forehead drops to mine. Tears leak from her eyes. "He raised you, Brenna. He loves you... no matter what mistakes I made."

Dad's face flashes in my mind, and something painful takes root in my chest. It doesn't matter, I tell myself. "They've been teaching me, telling me everything. I know about the realms and the gala."

Mom's eyes are hard suddenly, and she gives the slightest shake of her head, nearly imperceptible. "You don't understand. There are things that even they don't know."

I blink at her. "What are you talking about?"

She brushes the frizzy hair back from my face, her brows pinching together. "There are things you will never understand about our kind." Her eyes dart toward Ajax, and she whispers. "Do not trust the old ways."

I grip her hands so hard my fingers are numb, and I shake my head, a silent plea for her to explain. "Mom..."

"Never let them take it from you. Your courage. Your strength. Your hope, Brenna. Hold it close."

Ajax steps forward, grabbing hold of my coat and yanking me back. "I think that's quite enough."

"What does that mean??" I grip her hands as he drags me back, and for a moment she clings to me.

Her voice is solid, sure. "You are everything. Everything. Sweetheart, I love-"

The door to the rooms swings open, and I kick and thrash as Ajax clamps down on my arms and drags me out. My mother screams from inside, banging against the glass as a soldier restrains her. Another soldier appears beside me, and my neck stings as a needle sinks beneath my nape. Her mouth is forming the shape of words I can't hear through the door.

My jaw goes slack, and my eyes fall shut, and I know as Ajax drags me back, I won't see my mother again for a while.