Under the moonlight

The Eye's prophecy

After they left the room, Selene brought them to the round table of the castle, high ceiling and alighted by chandelier on top. It is where her advisors and generals gather in the presence of war and in need of decision-making. The previous Alpha haven’t thought much use of this table except for when he was planning wars as he did not have much love for the opinions of others. His decisions were his to make, and the people could only follow, no matter how brutal it was. For years they continued to do so, until Selene.

As they entered the room, her generals and advisers were already there. It doesn’t escape her how they eyed the three human guests in the room. She hopes she made her point clear back at the street, she’s got no time for another argument with them.

Selene has an information she’s kept to herself, for years she wished that the Eye’s prophecies were only make-believe. The prophecy may or may not be true, but Selene’s no longer in the position to contemplate longer, they must consider all possibilities as soon as possible.

She ordered one of her servants to bring beverages for all the people in the room before she spoke, “I have an important announcement to make. It is not something I wished to say nor do I wish to instill fear in you, but in this situation, all things must be considered.”

“The reason why I’ve decided to forge an alliance with the humans is because of the Eye’s prophecy… It may come to fruition.” A chorus of disbelieving noises surround the room. “But If we work together, we might be able to prevent it.”

“This is unbelievable, how are you sure? That organization always talk nonsense!”

“I am not. But all things must be considered.” Selene added, “In a book Heusef found in the bookshelves, a thousand years ago, a moon the color of blood was a spectator to a war between the beasts we now face and the werewolves… driving our ancestors close to extinction, until the beasts suddenly disappeared for unknown reason.”

“Under the eye that shines a vivid cerise. In the darkness of the ground. The demons will rise, to match the sky’s bloodily eyes with the bodies of countless fangs till none remains.” Selene quotes the Eye’s relentless speech, “sounds familiar to you?”

“The blood moon...” An adviser muttered, seemingly realizing the connection.

“Approximately within the last days of the hunter’s month, a blood moon would grace us with its presence. If we don’t fight, if we don’t right past conflicts,” Selene switches her gaze to the humans in the room before continuing, “no one would remain to protect our children. It is time my brothers and sisters.”

No matter how much they try to deny it within themselves, this alliance is their only chance. The werewolves are scarce in numbers in comparison to the humans. If ever, the ghouls would lay waste on them in a month’s time, there wouldn’t be enough warriors of their own to match the winged beasts.

The 5 poleis have also great resources, weapons, and gifted warriors like the huntsmen, that would greatly help them. The more the advisers and generals listen to Selene, the more they were convinced despite hatred towards the humans. They had no choice, so they might as well.

///

“What is the Eye, Selene?” King Azar asked after all the generals and advisers left the room, and Alexandria was grateful that he did. They’ve been left in the dark the whole back and forth between Selene and her generals. She’s never heard of that organization they were talking about, nor did she fully understand what prophecy they were referring to.

“It is a group of people, who believes and preaches about a prophecy of our own doom in the hands of demons that appear in a blood moon. It talks about the day where my people are massacred until none remains.” Selene said after a few moments of silence, “I’ve never believed those people, and I never will. They may be right about the coming of those demons, but it is not my people’s end, and I’ll do everything I can for that.”

Judging by the King’s eyes, those words of Selene have gotten his respect as a leader. When Selene dethroned the previous infamous Alpha, Vorkalth, through a fight to death, words have spread as far as the 5 poleis about her might in battle. Vorkalth was someone vicious, brutal, and was a well-known tyrant as well as warrior, and to be dethroned by someone younger and a child he’s raised himself, humans pictured Selene as someone who’s worse than the monster that is Vorkalth.

What a surprise it is that King Azar was presented by such a visionary.

Although the king should have expected that as through the 2 years of Selene’s ruling, there were less violent encounters between the humans and werewolves.

Alexandria could see it too, though she’d rather deny it. She can’t hate the werewolves any less even if they were civil, it felt like she was betraying her deceased mother.

“Alexa and Julius, gather our men in the front door, we’ll be preparing to leave at dawn” King Azar ordered, both hesitant to leave the king alone with Selene. When they were finally out of the room, the silence was broken by the king.

“We can’t stay here any longer as I’ve got matters back at Avalair. I can’t say the announcement about our alliance will be welcomed any easier than the debacle earlier. For now, we will ride at dawn back home, trade routes of the 5 poleis would be open to Helike, to trade resources and weapons, and prepare for the blood moon.” The king said.

Selene nodded at that, silently contemplating, before adding, “You would need a representative here. A trusted one to speak and make decisions for your people in our land, and to report progresses.”

“Alexandria of Caelum can represent your people.” Selene suggests, Alexa is a reassurance that the king would never back out on his words, after all, she’s his daughter. “I’ve heard she’s a capable leader and as your daught–“

“No.” Selene raised her eyebrow at the king’s answer, challenging.

“Why not?”

“Your people loathes my huntsmen, especially my daughter, you’re insane if you think I’d let her stay here!”

“You don’t need reassurances Selene… I know that’s why you want my daughter. What more do you need to show our sincerity to this alliance?” The king continued, frustration visible in his face.

“This is what I need.” She snarled, “I’d be stupid without leverage, especially with someone who was my enemy. You, of all people, should know that”

“I will send someone else”

“I won’t allow it”

“Since when do you get to decide? If I remember, you need this alliance as much as we do.”

“And I can’t afford any mistakes… I’ve told you I would do anything for my people and you can’t request my trust nor can I request yours, only reassurances would do”

“If I would agree to this… promise me that no harm will happen to my daughter. If I would ever hear mistreatments, I’d burn this alliance to the ground and all of you included. I’ll be the demon to fulfill that prophecy of yours.” The father within him threatened.

“You have my word. But the same goes for yours,” Selene added, “I’ll send one of my own to Avalair to act as a representative for my people. Clyde will arrive later at midnight and I would speak to him beforehand. He is a great leader, and someone I consider my brother as I grew up with him. He and some of my people that would accompany him will be at your disposal, so treat them well.”

“Very well. Alexa would also be accompanied by the people of her choosing.”

“We bind ourselves in blood” King Azar knows this is a sacred ritual for the werewolves as primitive as they are, so he followed Selene’s lead and took the knife Selene handed him. He sliced through his palm diagonally to mirror what she did, then shook his hand with Selene’s.

At the back of his mind, he hopes peace and trust could also be easily bonded as this.

///

Alexandria was sitting on a rock right outside the fallen castle as they wait for the king. They were able to rest in the castle for a few hours before they had to leave at dawn. And she hasn’t seen the king since, and whatever it was that they were talking about, Alexa did not know. She has seen her father through the window in the castle, of what seems like a room, so she knows the king is safe still.

When the doors have finally opened, the king spoke to her, “Alexandria of Caelum, a word please”

“Yes your majesty.” The king led them a couple of distance away from the group to have some privacy, and Alexandria knits her eyebrows, suspicious as to the reason why she has been called.

The king took a deep breath before speaking without warning, “Alexa, you would need to stay here"