Collecting all the courage that I have inside me, I peek inside the well. That's when I feel a cold and rough hand pulling me inside the well. A glass shattering scream leaves my lips as the gravity pulls me deeper into the well.

Darkness surrounds me as I get swallowed deeper into the well. My heart is thundering in my chest and my stomach is churning sickly. The sense of my surrounding is lost; only the sound of the wind swooshing past my ears is all I hear. The voices are getting louder and clearer yet I cannot comprehend a word they're saying. Feeling overwhelmed, I squeeze my eyes shut and cover my head.

Suddenly, I feel the rigidness of the ground under my feet which has now replaced the emptiness of depthless well into which I fell. I let my hands drop from my head before I open my eyes slowly to find myself standing in one of the corridors in the palace.

The place looks familiar with the stone walls on which the torches hang. I look around to find the whole corridor deserted. There's a door at one end of the corridor while the other end is completely swallowed by darkness. I start walking towards the door, wanting to know which part of the palace I am currently at. I open the door and step inside to find the dungeons... wait, I've been here!

I came down here while I was searching for the secluded sanctuary. Tears pool in my eyes as soon as the whole incident starts to replay in front of my eyes. I sacrificed my choice to be marked to see my family who's been long gone. A sob starts to rise up my throat, choking me from inside, threatening to bring the agony out of me in the form of tears which I swallow down. I shake my head as I continue to walk through the long corridor in the dungeon.

I see light at the far end of the corridor. For some reason, I feel drawn to it like a moth to fire. My legs move without my whim as I find myself nearing the light. Either side of the corridors is lined with cages and intimidating doors. I don't even want to imagine what could be behind one of those doors.

Holding my breath, I keep walking towards the light. When I reach nearer to it, I see an old woman standing outside a door with a lantern. Her back is hunched and she is wearing a black cloak. Some loose strands of her white hair are hanging out of the cloak while she waits outside the door.

She looks at me but her expression seems unfazed as if she hasn't seen me at all. The heavy wrinkles hanging from her face doesn't even move a bit as her hollow and sly eyes look through me as if I am not even standing in front of her.

"Hello?" I call out to her but she doesn't respond as she continues to look through me. I step closer and wave my hand in front of her face but I am unsuccessful to wield a response from her. I try to step closer but instead of that, I end up tripping on my feet. A gasp escapes my lips when I lose my balance and fall over her. I close my eyes, waiting for the impact, waiting to knock her to the ground with me but... I fall through her.

I get up from the ground and try to touch her again but my hand passes through her. She seems like vapor. Confusion clouds my head. What is happening? Where am I? Am I getting a vision just like the one Haestus showed me some days ago?

Suddenly, footsteps echo in the corridor. They seem to be nearing us. The old woman continues to look into the darkness that surrounds the other end of the corridor from where the sound of footsteps seems to be coming.

A black hooded figure steps out of the darkness. It is instantly washed by the low light of the lantern hanging in the old woman's hand, exposing itself to our eyes. The height and weight of the figure are not much and the curves that the dark cloak outlines, confirms that there's a woman under it.

"Your Highness," The old woman greets as she bows. The hooded figure removes the hood to reveal a beautiful woman. Her slick golden blond hair is pulled back at the end of her head into a neat bun. She is quite fair in complexion which makes the brown in her eyes pop out more. Her thin lips and straight nose makes her look stern while providing a regal air to her profile.

As I study her features, a part of my mind keeps telling me that we've seen her before. She seems oddly familiar. Suddenly, something clicks in the back of my head before my eyes grow as big as saucers when the realization dawns upon me.

She is Brida!

The former queen of Zaeris. She is the wife of Aurelio and the mother of Zair, the crown prince of Zaeris who was supposedly killed by Arles. But as far as I remember Arles killed the whole royal family before taking over the throne. This confirms that I am either having a vision or somehow I've managed to travel into distant past.

"Is she here?" Brida asks the old woman who bows even lower if it was even possible with her hunched back.

"She is here, your highness. You can interrogate her as you wish," The old woman speaks. Her voice is shaking and rough. There's this tone of slyness to her voice that makes me question the identity of this old woman.

Brida nods before the old woman opens the door she has been standing by. The heavy metal door opens with a loud creak before Brida's footsteps disappear behind it. My curiosity has me following Brida until I am standing on the other side of the door.

It's a small cell whose walls are empty. There's a small bed at the corner of the room. It looks small and uncomfortable to sleep in.

There's a small window at the end of the cell through which the moonlight is peeking inside the dark room. By the window sits a woman. At the sound of Brida entering the room, she turns around to look at Brida or rather at us. As soon as that woman's familiarly unfamiliar silver eyes fall on me, I stop on my tracks.

My heart starts to race in my chest. A lump starts to build in my throat when I realize I have seen her before. Her painting used to hang in my previous room! Her eyes look uncannily familiar with Arles. She has the haunting air to her that makes me feel intimidated.

"Brida," She says loudly and clearly. Her voice is strong and stern enough to shake the ground beneath my feet. She places one of her hands on her belly before she stands up. It is when she stands up and the light sneaking in through the window bathes her body; I notice that her belly is swollen.

She is heavily pregnant.

"Luna," Brida growls at the woman. She is unpleased to see her and the tone of her voice doesn't hide it anyway.

My jaw hits the floor as soon as the four lettered word spoken my Brida sinks in my mind. Brida called that woman Luna. She is Luna!

I step forward to look at the pregnant woman closely. She seems young, a lot younger than me. If Brida is referring to her as Luna then she must be the mortal epitome of the moon goddess! I watch with my mouth wide open as the scene unfolds in front of my eyes.

Brida steps closer to Luna before she inquires, "Whose child are you carrying in your womb?" Silence follows Brida's question. Luna turns around to face the window. I stand behind Brida as I watch the two of them converse. The night is dark and eerily silent. The air around us is charged with tension.

"This child is Aurelio's," Luna shatters the silence with her strong and clear voice. Brida is clearly perplexed by her answer and so am I. Suddenly, I remember Arles telling me about Zair being his half-brother. Are they two related in any way?

"You're a woman of loose morals. You slept with the KING!" Brida yells as she points an accusing finger at Luna while the latter continues to stare out of the window. The moon is clearly visible through the window, casting its light on this realm, which has been borrowed from the sun.

"Aurelio used us both," Luna speaks, grief and despair laced in her voice.

"He's mine! You were just a mistress of his but I AM HIS QUEEN!" Brida yells. Her voice echoes through the dungeon. Even though she sounds strong and commanding, staking a claim on her husband, there's this undertone of plea and helplessness in her voice when it slightly wavers. The air grows hard to breathe as it thickens with tension while Brida continues, "You happen to threaten my claim on the throne! I'll destroy you and that bastard child of yours!" At this, Luna looks over her shoulder at Brida.

"I can get you executed for killing the child in my womb, Brida. Remember, it has royal blood running through its veins," Luna states. There's an edge of authority and command to her voice that makes Brida stumble back. She looks pale and shook.

"You...you're such a ..." Brida stutters while Luna turns around to face her. There's a satisfied glint on her face that makes Brida madder. Luna is having the upper hand.

"Don't forget who I am, Brida," Luna threatens which makes Brida growl.

"How dare you!" Brida mutters through her clenched teeth. I could feel her being tied by Luna's word. She is feeling helpless, she wants to attack Luna and hurt her in some way or the other. She hates how Luna is successfully defying her. Brida continues, "Don't forget I am the finest witch in this realm. You happen to cross me. I'll bring misfortune upon you and that bastard child of yours," she warns.

"I am the goddess of night and this child is the first of my creation. It'll rule over this land and the people as rightfully his. It'll do what I failed to do," Luna states as she steps closer to Brida. The way her Silver eyes are glowing in the dark and the amount of energy emitting from her, I feel intimidated by her. Both of them neither see me nor feel my presence but the vividness of this scene makes me feel like I am a part of it.

"I'll get you executed before anyone finds out," Brida threatens. Pure hatred dripping off her voice. It sends a chill down my spine. She is planning to kill an unborn which shows that she is ready to do anything to save her throne and her title.

"I'll die anyway but this child will live and rule over this land. Mark my word, Brida," Luna speaks as she tips her head high and looks down at Brida as if she is someone inferior to her. Luna's heated and pointed gaze is enough to make anyone feel naked and vulnerable. I find myself stepping back yet attracted to her.

"Very well, I'll see," Brida mutters through her clenched teeth as she storms out of the small cell to find that old woman still waiting outside.

"Get her executed as soon as she gives birth and bring the child to me," She orders the old woman before everything starts to spin around me. A roar of voices surrounds me, making me want to squeeze my eyes shut and cover my ears. I feel this tremendous pressure that seems to be squeezing the life out of me. At one point I couldn't breathe. Light and colors are dissolving into the darkness around me while the voices being loud and unbearable. I press my ears, wishing that somehow the voices won't reach inside them.

Slowly, the voices start to clear until one voice is left. A woman's painful moans are heard which makes me open my eyes and look around. My surroundings have changed. I am in a small hut which is poorly kept. The painful moans make me turn around to find Luna lying on a small bed while moaning in pain.

She is in labor.

There's a midwife lingering at the corner of the room. She doesn't even bother going to Luna and offer her some comfort. Luna looks deep in pain. The way she is struggling makes it painful for me to look at her. It's pouring outside. The angry droplets of the rain feel like bullets as they crash on the weak ceiling above my head.

As a loud thunder shakes the ground, Luna screams out loud. Her scream is followed by the wails of the newborn. The midwife rushes to take the newborn away while Luna lays in the bed, exhausted. Her eyelids are dropping and her chest seems still. The door of the hut opens with a loud thud before a huge and bulky man walks in. An angry and deep scar is running across his face, there's a huge executioner's ax in his hand. His eyes are trained on Luna.

NO!

A scream slips past my lips as the newborn's wails ring in my ears. A burning pain evades the place on my neck where Arles marked me. Everything is shifting around me while the pain starts to eat me away. It feels as if hot molten lava has been poured over a fresh wound. I've never felt such intense pain in my life. The echoes of the newborn's wails continue to ring in my ear, ebbing a part of my sanity. The more I hear them; more disturbing thoughts take over my mind.

They killed the newborn's mother. What's going to happen to the baby? Who is going to look after it? What will Brida do with the baby? Would she execute the baby too?

My chest heaves up and down as air fails to occupy my lungs.

I am so overwhelmed by the pain and the newborn's wails that I begin sobbing. I don't realize exactly when I had traveled back to the graveyard. Still sobbing, I run towards the palace. The newborn's wails are constantly ringing in my ears. I can't help but think about the baby and its future. Will it survive to see the sun, to unravel the truth that's been stained by blood and would be buried away with his mother?

Heck, I don't even know if the baby was a boy or a girl. How would the cruel world treat the baby? My mind is racing a thousand miles per hour. The pain is becoming unbearable every passing second. With every sob, my energy drains out of me in the form of tears. I feel so cold and weak. What's happening to me?

Soon, I am back in the garden and into Arles's wing. It's completely dark and snowing outside. Arles is not in his room yet. No matter what I do, the pain won't stop. I hear the wails in my ears till now. They're haunting me. By now, I've completely broken down into tears as I try to fight the pain.

The mark on my neck is burning. I want the pain to go away so badly. My claws come out before I start to claw the mark on my neck. I want to rip the pain out of my body if that's even physically possible. I am crying out loud while I hear the newborn's helpless cries. Blood trails down my body and a searing pain travel through my body but I can't stop until the pain and the cries disappear. I'll lose my sanity if they don't.

"NEFRET!" I hear someone call for me before sparks dance over my skin. It's him. My senses come alive and Vesta stirs feeling his presence. I start to cry louder, internally praying to him to take the pain away but then, he's the one who caused me all the pain in the world already.

He tries to stop me from clawing myself but I fight him. I won't let him take control of me again. I won't submit to him anymore. I'll put up a fight with him even if I die. The pain has intensified and I scream at the top of my lungs. If I go any higher I might end up ripping my vocal cords. I feel like a possessed woman about who is about to get exorcized.

He takes my hands and pins them over my head before I feel tranquility enter me. I feel light headed and dizzy. Suddenly, I am too tired to scream but the pain continues to eat me away. I still hear the cries. I still want to fight but couldn't find the energy to fuel my wishes.

My eyes are dropping before they flutter shut. I slip into unconsciousness before I hear him whisper, "What have I done to my Nefret?"

It pinches at my heart and that's the last thing I feel before the pain fades away and the cries become distant...