The Broken Rules

Chapter 4: A Brutal Past

*Author's note: in this chapter, there are mature content ranging from rape to brutalised deaths, I tried to minimalize the important information in this chapter so that some of you can skip this chapter. The mature content will be present in the paragraph after the mother's speech for those who wish to read most of the chapter except for the disturbing content. The viewer's discretion is required. You have been warned, thank you for your comprehension*

*12 years back in time, Luna's vision in a mansion*

           When it came to that day, I remembered it clearly. It was my seventh birthday, I thought it would have been the best day ever, I was so happy and full of myself back then, I was young and innocent. Little did I know, horror would fall upon my family and me.

           I was in bed when my sister Jane came into my room, all joyful and telling me to hurry. My mother had joined in and told me to wake up. I got out and dressed up, we walked down the stairs and found in the living room the grand varnished oak table fully decorated with a magnificent birthday cake in the middle. A sort of cheesecake. One of my favourites. One that I would never eat again. My father, brother, sister and mother then chanted out "Happy birthday Luna!". I was so happy and innocent, filled with joy and love. Once again, I was young. We ate and left nothing behind, my parents had gifted me a small blade, a token of our family lineage. I knew that this day was special, not because I was seven years old which would be logical in any other family, but because today my parents would finally tell me the tale of our family, the tale of the Nightenghales. I was so excited, I was eagerly waiting for the day to pass, to go to bed and have my mother tell me everything I questioned at such a young age.

           For most of the day, I played around with my brother and sister in our vast garden leading to a forest. We lived in Ragdos Kingdom right on the borderline of Claribel Kingdom. The forest in our garden was a large forest that connected the two Kingdoms. We were very close to the Royals of Claribel because the border was a little blurred where we lived. I also knew a bit about the Royals, especially the Prince who was called Gwaine because my sister kept talking about him all the time. I believed she said he was a few years older than me, but I didn't really care, I preferred weapons over boys. My brother taught me a little bit of swordsmanship over the years but now I could finally have my own little sword to fight with, not a wooden one! I was ecstatic that day, but as I said, terror would overcome that joy and make it vanish:

-Luna dear, it's time for bed!

-Yes Mother! I'm coming!

I practically ran back into our house and into my chambers as soon as I heard her soft voice calling my name. Jane and my brother Kane ran up with me. I went into bed and they bided me goodnight before my father took them under his arms. My mother arrived and came into the room, staring at me with a smile as I was beaming with joy under my warm flannel bed sheets:

-Sylvia...

-No Gale, it's time, it's our tradition, Jane and Kane learned about our lineage, now it's time that she knows too.

-I know but what if she's the one..?

-It'll be fine, don't worry. I'll see you later.

-Mother?

-It's alright Luna, I'll be there in a second!

She looked at my father and told goodnight to everyone before coming toward me. She sat down on the side of my bed, and brushed her cold hard palm against my face with a smile before she started to talk: