Taranheim 181

Mother was coaching me on how to be a lady. “Let me see you sit properly, my darling.”

I sat down on my throne made of roots in our castle made of wood that was protected on all sides by the branches of a gigantic moth tree. The great hall was vacant at the moment, and it was just me and Mother.

I slouched over with a melodramatic groan in response and crossed my ankles. In addition, I sloppily folded my four arms in my lap.

Mother shook her head with a gentle smile. “The sooner you get it, the sooner you can go play. Sit up straight, my darling. You have no reason to be slouching. A girl like you should always hold her head high.”

I looked at Mother intently and silently for a moment, and then I smiled. I sat up straight for her and crossed my ankles with a look of pride on my face.

“Look at you. A perfect lady!” Mother said cheerfully. “Confident and ready to help guide her husband and children!”

And I felt confident. I had no reason to hide who I was.

_

What a pleasant dream that was, my diary! I feel like I am on the right path—like Mother is guiding me even now…

It is a new month and I feel like a new woman. I suddenly feel very confident in myself and my abilities.

I looked to my side at the sleeping Paris and wanted to go right back to sleep, but I had business to take care of that couldn’t include Paris.

I had very confused feelings about him. I wasn’t entirely sure I loved him at all times--but I certainly loved him in the night hours♡. It was achingly lonely during the day but very fun and comforting at night. I supposed I loved how much he loved me, but I wasn't so fond of how overly protective he seemed to be.

I got up before he or anyone else did and I headed to the slave quarters with many of our guards eying my suspiciously. “My Lady, what are you doing up?”

“I have business to take care of,” I said honestly and confidently. “Do not bother me.”

I walked down the many corridors of the castle until I arrived at the slave quarters at the west wing. There were guards posted there and I asked them—standing up perfectly straight with my head held high, “which room does the black moth sleep in?

“The middle one there, My Lady. What business do you have with him?” The guard asked.

“This is my castle and I owe you no explanation.” I replied fearlessly. “I’m going in.”

I opened the door—expecting there to be a guard holding the creature’s chain even in his sleep—but it was entirely pitch black in there. I looked around in the darkness—trying to find Morgan while sweating in fear while silence reigned all around me.

When my eyes adjusted to the dark, I could pick out something on the floor that looked like spilled wine. I moved closer to it so I could get a better look/

I shrieked as I realized it was a pile of smeared blood and frayed clothes. From the corner of the room, I heard crunching noises and I turned around and frantically called for the guards while pounding on the door in fear. I glanced behind me and I saw his red eyes glowing in the dark--his white teeth dotted with red specks and displayed in a hideous grin.

I continued to pound on the door and tried to open it—but it would not budge! I did that for what felt like minutes with tears in my eyes. I turned back into a sobbing child and had forgotten my newfound confidence and courage.

A girl like you should always hold her head high. Mother reminded me.

I thought of my sister’s safety and Terry’s black eyes I managed to find some courage.

I had to be brave for them.

I faced Morgan fearfully. “What are you planning to do with my sister?”

Morgan just stood there grinning at me from the corner of the room and my whole body shook in terror as he began to slowly approach me on all fours with that horrifying smirk on his face.

“Do you have something to do with the black eyes? Why can only I and Caerwyn see them?” I continued with a shaky voice.

“Your sister will be mine. Terry is already mine. And you have already chosen Paris over your best defense, Caerwyn. You are a weak woman who can do nothing to stop the oncoming calamity. You cannot fight; all you can do is sew, clean, cook, and make love. You may be able to detect the evil in man’s heart, but you cannot fight it.” Morgan taunted me as he approached me and stopped when he was close enough to touch me.

There was silence between us as my heart pounded in fear and I stared at his red eyes.

With a horrible shriek like howling wind the creature leapt at me and dug its teeth into my arm. I screamed in pain and wondered why the guards had not come to rescue me as I tried to shake the creature off and I cried and repeated over and over again, “Caerwyn help me! Please help me!”

It bit deeper into my arm and pain shot through it as I wept in terror and tried to open the door—but it still would not open!

Suddenly, as I struggled and wept in fear, everything went white.

The creature was no longer chewing on me and had disappeared. I collapsed to my knees with blood flowing freely from my arm in the milky whiteness of wherever I had ended up.

A pink hand appeared on top of mine and helped me up. I came face-to-face with Caerwyn’s green eyes. His touch lit me on fire with love and passion. I wept with happiness as I embraced him. “You’re touching me…”

He gave me a forbidden kiss with alluring eyes and told me, “your love has given me such happiness and strength. I have always been an eternally miserable creature but for God’s affection and your touch. You showed me love where others have shown pity. For a time, I felt like I was more than just a woman wearing a man’s armor.”

I tried to kiss him again but he melted away and I was back to cruel reality where Morgan sank his teeth deeper into my arm. I cried tearfully for a long time, but then… I retreated into my thoughts. I thought deeply about this evil creature who had no regards for anyone but itself…

This poor creature. What a sad and pitiful existence it was to seek the destruction of others.

I looked upon the wretched creature with pity and I reached out with love in my eyes and--with a free hand--touched his cheek. “What have you been through to want to hurt me? You poor thing…”

Its red eyes went from a frenzied red madness to a calming blackness. The creature let go of my arm and was absolutely still as it looked blankly ahead for a time.

Seconds passed.

“Are you okay?” I asked him.

I gasped as thousands of red doves suddenly phased out of his eyes.

“Help me! Lust has grabbed ahold of me!” The now black-eyed moth cried.

“Who are you?” I asked, confused.

“I gave my soul to the wicked god! Please help me!” The black-eyed Morgan cried.

“The wicked god!” I exclaimed in shock. “What must I do to save you?”

Morgan had an extreme look of horror on his face as the angry doves danced around his head and threatened to enter it once again.

“He hates you!” Morgan cried. “Protect me!”

I didn’t know what to do, and so I threw my arms around Morgan protectively and drew us both to the ground on my knees as the doves tried to reenter his body through his eyes.

I heard the horrible shriek that sounded like howling wind again repeat over and over as the doves shredded my skin—trying to get to Morgan.

Morgan cried, “they’re going to kill you!”

My eyes were closed and I didn’t want to open them out of fear.

I held out for a little longer, and I began to hear the doves shriek in pain as they attacked me and then I lost consciousness.