Daydreams And Nightshade (DaN #1)

Chapter 32: Messages

Luna shut the door to the library behind her and gave the book in her hands a bitter look. The history of Kerilia, because her tutor had a lot of opinions when it came to her learning capacity compared to her brother, but what was she supposed to do? The words wouldn't stick to her brain. They were gone as soon as she'd read them.

There was still time before supper so instead of walking home she decided to take a detour and steered her way towards the BBT mansion with a reluctant Vincent in tow.

"The days are getting darker, aren't they?" He tried disguising his worries as small talk, but Luna refused to acknowledge it.

They'd almost crossed the town square to head north when she spotted Noah further away, accompanied by Finn. Luna exhaled through her nose. She didn't like thinking about her fiancé. She'd rather ignore his existence. She knew Noah had been talking to him more and more but she'd never seen them together like that. Of course, as soon as they spotted her and Vincent they started walking towards them.

Luna groaned.

"Lady Hargreaves," Finn greeted her with a big smile. Luna however, only spared him a brief nod.

"Fiancé."

"I see you've cut your hair. It looks nice."

Luna resisted the urge to run a hand through her hair. It wasn't so much a style choice as it was a means of protection, but she'd still hesitated for the longest time before going through with it. She'd liked her long hair, but after consideration she'd decided she hated the idea of having another poltergeist grab it to hold her down more than she liked keeping it long.

She turned away from Finn without replying and focused on Noah instead. "Off to the sanctuary?"

Noah nodded. He looked ridiculously flustered and Luna's lip curled. Why couldn't he have gotten engaged to Finn instead of her?

"It's Ilara's day after all."

The way he said it implied he knew full well Luna had forgotten, and she clicked her tongue, because he was right.

In her defense Ilara was Noah's Archon of worship and while his day of giving affected everyone in town Luna just couldn't care enough to remember. She still lived with her father so any donations they'd make to people in need would be through him anyway.

Noah was likely going to help with the food distribution at the sanctuary though, and it bothered her for seemingly no reason. A feeling of guilt perhaps, that he actively spent the day helping people while Luna couldn't even be bothered with remembering the holiday at all.

"Would you like to join us?" Finn offered, and Luna didn't even have to imagine Noah's disappointed expression before replying.

"Definitely not."

"Not a lady of faith?"

"I most certainly am." Luna lifted her chin. "I just don't agree with the sanctuary."

"Luna..." Noah gave her a pleading look and Vincent's eye twitched, as if that would change anything. Finn on the other hand arched his eyebrows.

"Interesting. A less common faith then perhaps?"

Luna didn't like the question. Her beliefs couldn't be pinned to one specific faith. It was a complicated subject she'd probably be happy to discuss with someone else, but not Finn of all people. So she scoffed.

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"I figure I should."

"Why don't you ask Noah about his faith instead?" Luna gestured to her brother. No one was forcing Finn to walk with Noah, so Finn should at least be somewhat interested in him.