ARIA’S POV.The next morning, I had my bath and got ready to head out. Since Aiden has decided he wouldn’t tell me whatever is going on, I will mind my business as well. I needed to know more about myself and how to work out my powers, and control it as well.There’s no way I’m going to tell Aiden about this because I need someone I can trust fully, someone who will always be there for me and never give me the cold shoulder. I rose to my feet, and walked out of my room, heading to the kitchen, in search of Portia or the other maid who escorted me to the Open Mouths.Fortunately, I bumped into the other maid.“Hey, you. See me at the garden.” I said to her, and headed to the garden.I didn’t want it to look suspicious as I called her over to follow me out to the garden. On getting to the garden, I turned back to face her.“What’s your name?” I questioned her.“I’m Pauline, miss.” She responded respectfully and I nodded my head in satisfaction of her respect.Studying her, she seemed
ARIA’S POV.Later in the day, just as I had requested, Pauline had brought along a map of the direction to the soothsayer’s home. My face brightened up with a smile as I looked through the map and noticed how detailed it was.There was no way I would get lost with this map.“Hold on. How are you so familiar with this place? You drew it in a really detailed manner.”“I once lived somewhere not too far from the mountains.” She replied, lowering her eyes in respect.“Really? Then why did you leave?” I asked, out of curiosity.Pauline sighed, and her eyes teared up, making me more curious to know what had happened to her.“What’s going on?” I asked, with concern.“I didn’t leave. More like I was saved from such a dangerous place. It isn’t as dangerous as I may call it, but for people like me who barely have our wolves strong, will always see that place as a really dangerous place. That’s where I lost my family.”“What! You lost your family at the mountains?”“Near the mountains. A few of
ARIA'S POV.My eyes widened at his words, but he didn't seem to notice. He simply patted my shoulder twice, still with that poker look on his face. What could I do? What could I say? I watched him walk away, unable to take any line of action.Even if I was to call out to him, what was I to say? I had no excuse for wanting to go outside. When he was long gone, without finishing his meal, I turned around, and made my way back to my room, feeling a little disappointed. I got to my room, and sat on my bed.No, I couldn't just stay home because he asked me to. Punishment or not, I could not afford to spend the next day inside.What about the soothsayer who I needed to visit?No one else would and could go for me. It had to be me. I got up, and began to pace around my room, with one arm folded underneath my breasts, my elbow from the other arm leaning on it, and my thumb nail in my mouth.My thumb nail got chewed mercilessly, as I continued my journey back and forth the length of my roo
ARIA'S POV.I didn't like the cold chill that settled over me. My feet stayed stuck in place, I found it difficult to move. What was I to do if he saw me?What in the world was he doing awake when the sky was yet to lighten up? That was just straight unfair. Why would he seriously be awake?Or did he have someone keep an eye on me? What was he doing in the direction of the back doors? I doubted he visited it frequently. My heart seemed to expand in my chest with each beat. It felt like it was going to burst in no time. Aiden didn't need to do anything to set fear loose in me. Okay, what was I going to say if he saw me? What was I going to do? I couldn't turn around because I didn't know if he was there yet, and I also couldn't move lest he was there, and spotted my suspicious movement.Yeah, I knew it was silly, standing there fixed on a spot, but I really couldn't move. My legs were miserably fixed on the spot. It was then I knew that it was possible to sweat very early in the mo
ARIA'S POV.For the second time that day, I was stuck in my position—unable to move, not even a little finger. Their eyes flashed dangerously in the dark—the ominous color of blood. They had ears that looked like bats, but short legs and really lean tummies that showed off the bones in their skeletons. Their arms were also long and sagged to the floor, but wait…Those weren't arms. They were claws! Their hands stopped short of their thighs, and the rest were black claws that made my eyes double their size. Their feet also had claws on them, and I wondered just how deep those claws could tear. They stared at me like I had trespassed, and it was then I noticed the forest was silent. There was no single sound anymore. No animal calls, supposed love songs, annoying insect tunes, or hidden birds…It was just me, them and the moon watching from above. One of them opened its mouth, and I squinted my eyes to see sharp teeth that looked like silver needles. Although they were short, and were
ARIA'S POV.The stream was cold and unforgiving, as I went deep into it.I hit my hand on a rock, and the pain almost made me scream out in the water. Underneath the water, I could see the sun peeking out from the clouds, slowly. I tried to swim upwards, but it was hard, with the stream carting me away, flushing me like I was a piece of crumpled up paper. I hit a few more rocks, painfully, before I was able to rise out of the water.My breath came in gasps, as I tried to take it all in. I felt like a thief, trying to steal all the breath in the world.“Ah! Somebody help!” I screamed, reflexively, even though I knew there was no one out there, with a single good intention towards me.Looking back, I spotted the monstrous creatures already far from me. They watched me, gnashing their teeth, and scratching the ground. It was good that they couldn't jump into the water because I knew they would have come after me if they could swim.However, as I continued to gasp and take in deep brea
ARIA’S POV“Miss, is there anything you’ll like to eat for lunch? Maybe some snacks?” Portia asked, looking a bit concerned.I let out a deep sigh, and looked away, although it wasn’t intentional, but the fact that I had wasted my time, going through that horrible forest, made my soul feel dampened. Luckily, no one got to know that I had left the four walls of the palace, except Pauline, but that wasn’t enough to make me feel a bit light.“Miss?” Portia asked again, bringing me back to the current situation.“Thank you, Portia. But I’m in no mood for lunch. I’ll also like to have my privacy.” I said to her, looking into her eyes before I got frustrated about her disturbing presence.“Alright, miss. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me or any other maid you find.” She uttered as she left, but I gave no reply.Now, I was all to myself in the bedroom. I really wanted to know more about myself, and with Aiden, acting so distant and hurtful, it’s certain I can’t get the answers
ARIA’S POVIt was so unexpecting and shocking to see a book about moon wolves, and even apart from seeing a book like that, it was more shocking to find it in Aiden’s secret library. But this was my luck shining on me. All along, I didn’t know that what I was searching for was under my nose. I guess the moon goddess led me to this library so I could stop stressing myself over an attempt that wouldn’t give me positive results.I picked up the book from the table and then found a chair to sit on comfortably, and placed it on my lap, then flipped the pages open. It felt like I was about to go on an exciting ride, and I hoped that whatever I find there was going to be really useful for me, and wouldn’t make me feel so sad.Going through the book was like going to an amusement park as every single read was interesting and fun. It made me more curious and I couldn’t just stop reading. It was a real page turner, but one thing was certain. I couldn’t read it completely, and obviously, it wou