Daughter of the Cursed Moon

Prologue

Fourteen Years Ago

“I’m going to tell you a story, my little shadow, one I haven’t told you before and I need you to listen closely.”

Her mothers long, elegant fingers brushed through her silver hair as they laid upon their little bed, huddled closely beneath moth-worn blankets.

The frosty Tavarrian night begged for even a single flame to be lit in the hearth, but they did not light fires when night fell.

A rule her mother had stressed, for everyone–even seven year old Syra–knew it to be dangerous.

Despite the chill settling deep into her bones, she nodded eagerly.

It had been many moons since she had heard a new tale.

“Many years ago, long before you and I were even a whisper in the wind, two Goddesses roamed this earth,” her mother began, voice soft as fingers continued to comb through her tresses. “Can you tell me their names, my love?”

“Lua and Soli, the sisters who rule the moon and sun and protect all the citizens of Tavari.” She answered dutifully, a toothy grin on her small face.

Her mother hugged her tightly, pressing a kiss to her forehead, “Very good, my little shadow. How have you grown to be so smart already, hm?” Syra quieted her giggles as her mother continued the story, “Soli, Goddess of the Sun and Earth, blessed her most devout followers with magical gifts. Some could create fire from nothing—a flame that burned and raged deep within them. Others were gifted the power of golden light, a light so blinding even the sun stopped in the sky to admire their creations. What else did Soli gift her followers?”

“Soli also blessed her people with powers of sun healing and some can control the earth like rocks, vines, and trees because they are all fed by the energy of the sun.”

Her mother smiled approvingly before she went on, “Lua, Goddess of the Moon—”

“—and Sea and Stars,” Syra sang happily, interrupting.

“Yes, my love, Goddess of the Moon and Sea and Stars, blessed her most devout followers with gifts of their own. Magical powers that still course through our veins today. Some could control the very water our people sailed upon, or manipulate the air around us. Others were gifted the silver healing light of the stars and some—though very few—were given the ability to see far into the future. What else?”

“Shadows.” Syra grinned, wiggling her small fingers as wisps of shadow appeared, swirling through the air.

“Yes, shadows that only the most devout of her followers were blessed with. Do you know why?”

Syra scrunched up her nose, deep in thought as she skimmed through her mind for all the tales her mother had spoken to her in the late evenings.

“No mama, I don’t think so.”

“Like all sisters, Lua and Soli were prone to fights and bickering, but unlike us mortals the fights of the Divine always have the most dire of consequences. They grew to be distrustful of one another, always wanting to gain the upper hand in a battle of wills. To be blessed with shadows is to defy the light itself. Those who were shadow-blessed were the fiercest of Lua’s protectors.When the Goddesses blessed their people with these powers, they sent them to war over Tavarrian land and its inhabitants. ”

“The Celestial War,” Syra added sullenly. She couldn’t fully grasp what this meant, but she knew from the low, sad tone of her mother’s voice when she spoke of it that it was not a good thing.

“The Celestial War was merely a hundred years ago, my little shadow. This war was long before that, but was fought over the very same things. No longer did the people of Tavari pray to both Soli and Lua, their two Goddesses. No, humanity was forced to pick, you either worshipped Soli or you worshipped Lua, but never again both. Can you tell me what the followers of these religions are called today?”

“Solerian for the Goddess Soli and Luanthian for the Goddess Lua. We pray to Lua, mama.”

Her mother smiled, hiding her pain from the little silver-haired girl who laid next to her. “Yes, we worship the Goddess Lua as all of our family before us have. We are children of the Moon no matter who tries to take it from us.”

“Why would they try to take it from us?” Syra asked, her fingers tracing a path of wispy shadows through the air.

“Tavari has been at war for a long time now. Before the Celestial War, four people sat on the council of the Goddesses. Two Solerians and two Luanthians ruled over Tavari, chosen by the Goddesses themselves. For the last century since the Celestial War, only the Solerian royal family has ruled this country.”

The shadows vanished from the air as Syra frowned up at her mother, “That doesn't seem very fair.” They both bore the silver hair of their heritage, their warm olive skin dusted in freckles. Though where her mother’s eyes were the deep blue of ocean waves, Syra’s were grey like rumbling storm clouds—dark and unreadable.

“It isn’t, my love,” her mother nodded in agreement, “but thus we begin the part of the story you have not yet heard.”

Syra leaned in closely as her mother’s voice dropped low and quiet.

“After the Solerians stole the throne for themselves, Luanthians began to be stripped of our humanity. No longer were we equal in the eyes of our Solerian brothers and sisters. We were pushed and beaten down to be beneath Solerians. To be cast from high society, to live with fewer rights and fewer dreams. Forced to practice our religion and pray to our Goddess in the darkness of night where no eyes and ears can see or hear us. That is why we do not light fire at night, so that Soli can not see us, for she is a jealous and vengeful Goddess. They have made our worship to the Goddess Lua an evil and despicable offense to their ways.”

Syra knew this, as well as she could at her age.

Could feel the disapproving eyes as they walked through the streets, had felt it in the way she and her Luanthian classmates were treated differently than her Solerian ones.

She had also found it odd that none of her teachers were Luanthian, all prayed to the Goddess Soli.

Syra chewed her lip, glancing fearfully up at her mother. This did not feel like her other stories, the urgency in her mother’s tone frightened Syra.

“Things have become more and more dangerous in the past few years, I don’t want to scare you, my little shadow, but you must understand me, okay?”

Syra gave a small, shaky nod. Her mother reached behind her own neck and unclasped the silver chain. It was the first time in her life that she had ever seen her remove it. Syra was shocked when her mother fastened it around her own neck, the chain cold against her skin.

Dangling from the silver necklace was a small pendant, a silver circle with a tiny black jewel directly in the center.

Before Syra could say a word, her mother whispered a quiet prayer to the Goddess Lua before firmly pressing the pendant to her lips.

Syra gasped as the tips of her silver hair slowly began to take on an inky blackness.

It traveled further up until she was sure no silver remained.

She gripped the ends of her hair, confusion written across her face.

“This necklace will keep you safe, you must never remove it.” Syra’s mother took a breath, “Earlier today, King Artius called for a cleansing of all Luanthians within Tavari, to commence during the highest point of the full moon. We are no longer safe within this kingdom, Syra.”

“Are we leaving mama—”

“No, my little shadow. It is too late to leave. You must listen closely to me and do not interrupt, do you understand?”

Syra nodded once.

“From this day forward, you will no longer pray to Lua, you will no longer call yourself Luanthian. If anyone asks you, you are and have always been Solerian. Your parents, who both loved you very dearly, died of The Fever. You must never allow anyone to see your shadows, promise me Syra. You have no magic, you are not Goddess blessed.”

“Mama I don’t understand—”

Syra jumped as a loud scream ripped through the night air. Her mothers face drained of all color, as she swiftly pulled Syra from the bed, clumsily stuffing the young girl's feet into her boots, “Repeat it to me, now.”

Her voice was harsh and frantic but not unkind, which confused Syra even more.

“I am Solerian, I was born Solerian,” Syra began hesitantly, her mothers worried eyes encouraging her to continue, “My parents, who loved me very much, died from The Fever. I have no magic–never mention the shadows.”

Her mother pulled her tightly into her arms, kissing her head, her cheeks, “Very good, my love. Now you must do one more thing for me, okay? It is the most important of all. You must leave and you must run to Mrs. Sommers house, the lady who gives us potions when we’re sick to help us feel better. You remember the way, yes?”

“Yes mama, I remember, but when will you come?” Syra fought the tears that threatened to flow from her eyes, as her mother buttoned up her worn coat, all the way to her throat. Syra had always hated it when she buttoned it up so high, it was suffocating, but she held in the complaints now.

“I will always be with you, my little shadow.” She watched as her mother hurried to pack a small bag. Syra knew she hadn’t answered the question, but she did not dare ask again.

A loud banging at the door caused both Syra and her mother to jump.

“This is the Solerian Royal Guard! In the name of King Artius Soliel, the one chosen by our Goddess Soli and rightful ruler of Tavari, we command you to open the door!”

Her mother rushed to the single window in the small room, quietly opening it as she gestured frantically to the little girl frozen in fear.

“Come here Syra, hurry.” The little girl obliged, protests on her lips as she was hoisted up onto the sill, the small bag her mother had packed slung across her little body.