Reborn From The Moon [ON HOLD]

Nocte Regnum (Midnight Kingdom)

Chapter 1

April 4th, 1999

I gained conciousness. I opened my eyes to see a room of completely black. At first I thought I might have gone blind, but my eyes refocused an I saw that I was in a room.

Everything in it was completely black. The carpet was black, the dressers, even the doors were painted black. I looked down to see that I was laying on a bed that had black silk sheets. I was wearing a black silk nightgown.

"Whoever's house this is they seem to love alot of black." I thought mostly because my mouth was so dry. I looked over to the side table and saw that there was a glass of water there. I immediately downed it like I havent drinken in years. I probably havent. My throught and mouth were immediately rehydrated and I was starting to feel much less groggy.

I started to get out of the bed when the door swung open.

"Tua vigilans!" An older white lady said, in a language I didnt understand, when she saw me trying to get up. She gave off a grandmotherly vibe and somehow I knew she wouldnt treat me badly because of the racial difference. "Tu es trying impetro intentio non est. Ponere retro descendit!"

"Excuse me?" I said, not understanding a word she said.

"Oh I forgot you do not know how to speak Latin yet. It is okay, you will learn later. Right now you must lay back down. You are not yet fully healed and you shouldnt be straining yourself." She replied in a caring voice, pushing me back on the bed towards the end of the sentence.

"Luna Dea will be so glad you are awake. She has so much to teach you. I must call her and tell her you are awake. Lay here, I will be right back." She said rushing away.

"But wait I have a few questions." I say to her as respectfully as I can in my frustrated state. I still must remember that I am beneath her being that I am black and she is white.

"All your questions will be answered later. For now I must go alert Luna Dea of you consciousness. I will be right back, and you better still be in that bed when I return." She said, leaving me to my thoughts.

About 20 minutes later she returned with something in her hand. She threw it to me. It was a dress

"Put this on. Luna Dea is requesting your presence at the dinner tonight. She has made sure that everyone will be speaking English just for you. We have 30 minutes to make you presentable and teach you proper etiquette for tonight. We must get started. Here I will assist you out of the bed." She came over and helped me out of the bed. She also helped me undress and helped me into the bath. She offered to help me clean myself, but I felt that was a little too personal, so I declined.

When I had finished my bath I was feeling a little stronger so I got myself out of the bath tub and put on a robe I found hanging on the door. I walked into the bedroom to see the older white woman setting up a make-up kit on the night stand.

"Come on honey let's get you ready." She said ushering me over.

She had this wierd device plugged into the wall. I assumed it would be used for hair and was proven right when she sat me down and straightened strands of my hair with it. It worked kind of like a hot comb, but it was a bit faster and it didnt burn my head as much.

When she was done straightening my hair, she applied makeup. She put on charcoal black eyeliner, black mascara, and a deep blood-red lipstick.

Once finished my makeup she told me to go put on the dress she gave me. It was a long, form fitting, blood-red dress that had a long slit in it that ran up to my mid thigh. It had a black bow that was placed just under my bust. I thought it was a bit unappropriate, but she assured me that I wouldnt offend anybody. She also gave me a pair of black heels that were way higher than I have ever seen anybody wear, but suprisingly when I slipped them on, I was able to walk perfectly fine.

As I was about to leave, I remembered that I had never gotten her name.

"Excuse me, I never got your name." I called to her.

"Just call me Heros Servum." She replied.

"What does that mean?" I questioned.

"Hero's Servant" She replied. Then she left the room leaving me confused.

Hero's Servant, what could that possibly mean. I decided not to give myself a headache thinking about it and get to this dinner. I'll think about it later. Plus, if I really needed to know, someone would tell me.

With that I walked out the room. Then I realized something. I have absolutely no idea where to go. I'll just walk around until I find someone to ask.

I walked foward and turned the corner to see someone headed in my direction. He looked half hispanic half white and was very handsome, with chocolate brown eyes and dark brown hair.

"Excuse me?" I asked him, a little nervously. He looked confused for a second before understanding appeared on his face.

"Oh so you are the one that my mom is making everybody speak English for. Well I am Puer de Nocte and I am pleased to meet you, beautiful." He said, making me blush and confusing me at the same time. Should he be talking to me like this? I would hate for him to get in trouble for flirting with a black girl. Oh well, I just need to ask him a question, then we never have to cross paths again.

"Pleased to meet you too. I would tell you my name, but as strange as it sounds, I cant remember it. Sorry." I said to him, confused as to why I couldn't remember my name.

"Dont be sorry, it is usual for reborn's to forget their names, even though we havent needed a reborn since Joan of Arc. Anyway, you had a question for me?" He said. I was still on the Joan of Arc part though. I dont have an extensive knowledge of her, black people dont go to the fancy schools white people do, but I do know that she led the french army in some war. But what does she have to with any of this? And what is a reborn? Ugh, my head hurts.  I'll ask these questions later. Right now I need to figure out where I need to go.

"Someone named Luna Dea has requested my presence and I have no idea where to go. Could you possibly point me in the right direction?" I asked politely.

"Ah yes the dinner that my mom is hosting in you honor.  Well, I happen to be going that way, would you mind accompanying me there?" He asked me.

"But wont you get in trouble?" I asked.

"Why would I get in trouble?" He asked confused.

"Well you are white. It would look very scandoulous if you were seen walking with a negro girl on your arm. I wouldnt want to get you in trouble." I said. Shouldnt he know this, it's common knowledge.

"Ah, I forgot that you were taken in the sixties. You see, this is Nocte Regnum, a kingdom where race makes no difference. We are not humans, we dont judge people because of the color of their skin. Even on Earth , America now rid of segregation. It is the 90's there, a time of technology and equality. African Americans are moving up in the world, that doesnt mean that there isnt still racism, but there is much less than there was before. It isnt 1968 anymore, beautiful. So to answer your question, I would most definately not get in trouble, mostly because nobody looks at race, but also because I am a product of an interracial relationship myself, and from what I heard, so are you." He finished.

I'm confused. First of all, how is it the 90's, when it feels like I just died and I died in 1968? Also, I cant believe that MLK's campaining for segregation actually worked and that we are now a segregated people. I couldnt imagine it. And Nocte Regnum? I have never heard of this place before. Also, how are we not on Earth? It's impossible. Nobody has even been to the moon yet. And what does he mean, taken? I am so confused.

"I see that you are confused. You probably have alot of questions. Dont worry, all of your questions will be answered soon. First we have to go to this dinner before me mom start's to think you have disapeared. Come on, beautiful." He lead me towards the dining hall. I do hope my questions are answered soon because otherwise, i'll go crazy.

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Pic of Steven Strait as Puer de Nocte otherwise known by his alias to be used later in the story, Pierre DeNocte.