Chapter 29 - TWENTY-NINE - I DO NOT BITE

Chapter 29: Chapter TWENTY-NINE - I DO NOT BITESerena stood in silence for a while, her eyes still locked with Darius’. "It’s urgent," Darius added. "I see," she said, her voice steady despite the sudden tightness in her chest. "Give me a moment while I change." She brushed past him, glancing at Darius for a moment before turning her head away. Serena took her time climbing the stairs, her mind blank. Her stomach was in knots, and nausea overcame her. She willed herself to stay calm before she ended up throwing up everything she had eaten. It would be horrible to think she had the luxury of wasting her moonshade pies. She had been so happy to make them, happier still to share them. Her grip tightened on the railing as she continued her ascent to the second floor. And yet, in the end, the pie had only been nice. So Darius was better off just telling her he had come to take her to their priestess, instead of this complicated plan, sitting with her, trying to be her friend. Or at least, that’s how it had felt to Serena. She pushed open the door to her room. One by one, she undressed. Thankfully, she had bathed before baking. She picked out a dusty blue dress with simple sleeves and embellishments. Every dress fit her perfectly, and they were all beautiful. Livia put great care into her work, regardless of how she felt about the wearer. Serena fumbled with the zipper for a few seconds before pulling it all the way up. She quickly got to work on her hair, braiding it and shaping it into a simple bun. Then, she pulled open a drawer and took out a white scarf, one of the few Annamarie had gifted her. Serena tied it tightly over her head, inspected herself in the small mirror, and without another moment wasted, left the room. — Darius was waiting for her by the main door, his arms folded across his chest. "You covered your hair?" he asked. "I usually do," she said curtly. Darius grumbled something under his breath before opening the door for her. They walked to a tree where a brown stallion was tied. The horse whinnied as they approached. Serena stepped closer, reaching out a hand. The moment her fingers brushed its muzzle, the horse nudged her in greeting. She smiled, stroking its forehead. It whined softly, leaning into her touch. A quiet chuckle escaped her. She caught Darius watching them silently before he cleared his throat. Moving to the side, she placed her hand on the horse’s flank. Since Darius was the rider, he would have to mount first. "Can you ride?" he asked coolly. "I can manage," Serena replied. She watched as he pushed off the ground, swinging his right leg over the horse. Serena gathered her dress, silently cursing herself for not choosing something more practical. She hadn’t known they would be riding. Darius stretched out his left hand to her. It was standard for the second rider to take the first rider’s hand, but Serena wanted nothing more than to swat it away. But there was no avoiding it. She sighed and gripped his hand tightly, hopping off the ground and swinging her right leg over the horse. Darius dropped her hand and took hold of the reins. The horse began to trot. Serena held onto his shirt, careful not to grip his waist. They had to stick close together to keep their balance. As they moved forward, the trees along the path grew denser, winding into a place where anyone unfamiliar with the land could easily get lost. — Serena jumped off the horse, landing awkwardly before steadying herself. She straightened quickly, brushing off the momentary unsteadiness. It had been a while since she had ridden, and she missed the rides her father used to take her on. Darius dismounted with practiced ease, tying the horse to a nearby tree before gesturing for her to follow. He sat on the steps and took off his shoes. "Take off your shoes, too," Darius directed. She didn’t question it. The priestess always asked for strange things to be done, and besides, she had no desire to speak to Darius more than necessary. — If Darius hadn’t been walking so quickly, Serena would have taken the time to study the images carved into the walls, the paintings that adorned the temple. She was so caught up in what little she could see that she didn’t notice when Darius suddenly stopped. She walked straight into him, muttering a quiet curse as she stepped back. "Wait here," Darius said. "She will call for you at any moment." Before them stood a wall, and to its side was an opening, though there was no door, nor did it seem as if one had ever been planned for it. Serena was growing impatient when she heard the rattling of jewelry. Then, the Moonseeker emerged from behind the wall. She was far from what Serena had imagined. The Moonseeker was hauntingly beautiful, skin as brown as mahogany wood, hair as white as the full moon, styled in simple cornrows decorated with silver jewelry. She wore a flowing black gown adorned with silver embellishments. Serena’s mouth hung open. Her eyes were completely white, with no visible difference between her irises and pupils. Darius fell to his knees. Serena remained frozen in place until he tugged on her dress. Then, she bowed her head low. The Moonseeker stepped down, stopping before them. "Rise," she commanded. Serena stood up, looking her in the eyes. She wondered, how old was she? Her voice was distinctive, as though two different voices had merged into one. This was the priestess of Lunara- the Moonseeker. "Serena," the Moonseeker began, turning to her. "I asked for you to come here, and I am pleased you accepted my invitation." Serena nodded stiffly, unsure of how to address her. Her mouth hung open, but she quickly shut it. "Rid the knots in your shoulders," the priestess said. "I do not bite. Come with me."