The Moon Court

Twelve

"You were there when I declared the law, yet you still broke it." I said to my betrothed, Lord Luca of the western part of my country.

"He is ruining your name-"

"You are ruining your family's name, and you threatened the family of my only true friend. Which, if I am correct, means you have endangered his family. That is punishable by death, remember?" I asked and saw Delano's hand tighten on his sword, but Luca growled.

"He's a captain of a stupid army-"

"That army protects our borders!" I yelled as I stood, everyone in the room watching jumping back at my outburst.

"He runs the army that protects us, that allows us to sleep in peace knowing that bitch won't be coming to rape, murder, torture, and kill all of us! You do not know what she is capable of, I do! I know, and he is the only man I know that I would trust to protect my country the way he does! For the last twenty years, she has not once broken through our army's front lines! We have never once been worried-" I stopped as the doors burst open then I stared at who was there.

"Empress Luciana!" I snarled and she smirked as she stopped in front of me, the guards dragging Luca out of the way as all of my guards stood ready to attack at a single motion from me.

"Quite the city, I must say! So... ugly and dark!" Luciana laughed, but I snarled and went towards her, only for Delano to put his arm out, stopping me.

"So, you really were her, hmm?" Luciana asked and laughed as she eyed me.

"Yet, like the last Moon Queens, you dress as though someone just died!" She taunted, but I growled.

"What do you want, Luciana?!" I asked and she smirked.

"Your complete surrender." She said then Delano drew his sword, but I grabbed his arm.

"We will never surrender to you-"

"I have something that will change your mind. Something I've kept hidden for the last twenty three years." She said then I watched as she snapped her fingers, dragging in my mother in chains.

"Mother?" I breathed, but she was starved, skin and bone, and covered head to toe in dirt.

"We didn't kill her because we thought she would be useful."

"Queen Lylah?" Delano whispered, but I shook my head and went towards Luciana.

"There is a reason you are here begging for my surrender, and I know what it is." I said and she looked confused, but I smirked.

"Luca is your son." I said and her eyes went wide as everyone stared at her.

"I'll make a trade, Luciana." I said and turned, going back to my throne and sitting, smirking at her.

"Your bastard for my mother, and you will leave my country. Knowing you, you had to sneak around my front lines just to get here, am I right?" I asked and she softly laughed.

"I'll admit, your front lines are strong, so yes, we snuck around them. As for Luca, it is true that he is my bastard son, the child of one of my slaves-"

"A slave you took from us, twenty three years ago. The same day you took my mother and I from this palace." I said and she glared.

"Luciana, you must be stupider than I had thought!" I laughed and she snarled, but I grinned at her.

"It's so unlike you, a self-proclaimed genius of war, to go into enemy territory for the life of a bastard child! If I wanted, all of you would be dead on my floor and this war would be over at last!" I laughed and heard my guards snickering.

"You wouldn't even have the power of your sun to assist you! In my court, the moon is our power! You are powerless here, you are weak, outnumbered, and you are an absolute idiot!" I laughed then noticed she was going red with anger.

"You're just a little skank-"

"Says you who sleeps with every man except your husband!" I yelled and she looked shocked.

"I was your handmaiden, remember?! You tortured me, used me, but you also taught me how to defeat you! I know that you have spread your legs for every man in your precious Light City and yet you have no heirs because you don't sleep with the man you are married to! I know that Luca is your bastard child because I saw you sending him letters when I was ten!" I yelled and she looked at her son, but he was looking down in shame.

"If you want to live, Luciana, you will take that bastard and leave my mother here as you leave!" I growled and she looked ready to kill me. I stood and stepped down a stair, looking at her.

"Go, now, before I have my soldiers-" I stopped as she was suddenly in front of me, her hand against my stomach as she twisted her dagger, tearing my insides.

"I will have your throne!" She grinned, though I heard screams as I stumbled back, strong arms catching me.

"GUARDS, SEIZE THEM!" Delano roared, but a flash of light told me Luciana was gone with her guards. I stared up at Delano, but he was holding me close as a healer dropped next to me.

"You're going to be okay, Lylah! You-you'll be just fine!" Delano said, watching as the healer did all she could to try and heal my near fatal wound.

"What's wrong?!" Delano growled, but I grabbed his collar and he looked at me.

"My-my mother?"

"She's still here, she was taken out the second you were hurt!" He said and I nodded, closing my eyes as I tried to fight the pain.

"Lylah-"

"I'm still here." I whispered and opened my eyes, looking up at him.

"Delano, there-there's something I need to tell you." I whispered, seeing dark dots dancing around my vision.

"Okay, I'm right here! I'm listening!" He said, but I pulled him down to whisper in his ear as my body started losing consciousness.

"I-I love you, Delano."