LOGINShare
Chapter 25
Last Updated:
2022-01-11 14:34:50Felicia
By early morning we had cleared the tree line and were riding through craggy peaks at the top of the mountain range. It was frigid, and I was shivering. The air was filled with the fog of everyone's breath. It floated in the air and sparkled as it froze. The snow glowed with an orange haze as it reflected the morning sunlight.
From where we were, I could see for miles. I took a moment to appreciate the view. The forest seemed to go on forever until, way off in the west, I could make out the azure skyline that marked the edge of the sea.
My teeth were chattering, though, and I wondered how far it was until we arrived at wherever our destination was. Surely, they didn't intend to let me freeze
Related chapters
A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 26.
FeliciaI looked around the room that had been mine so very long ago. As I looked at the details, I could tell it had been fashioned for a young girl, not a grown woman. Like it had been frozen in time, just waiting for my return. But the whole thing didn't make sense. How and when could I have lived here?I tentatively sat on the edge of the bed. My brain was trying to sift through the details of jumbled memories. They were vague images and feelings mostly. I got the impression that, as pretty as the room was, it had always been a cell.I sighed heavily and walked over to the slit of a window. It faced a sheer cliff that disappeared into a deep ravine, so deep I couldn't see the bottom, just swirling snow and mist. I would not be escaping that way.
Last Updated : 2022-01-18A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 27.
FeliciaI woke up with my heart racing. Waking from the dream had left me disturbed. The face I had seen was mine but not at the same time. Her smile had been malevolent even psychotic. It had frightened me.The light from the window had faded and was the eerie bluish-grey of twilight. It made the room look menacing rather than childish.I got up from the bed and took the water glass drinking from it quickly, then looked around for something to take my mind off of the dream. I went over to the vanity and gazed at my face, it looked frightened and...fragile. Nothing like the expression in the dream. I got up and moved around the room.I leaned ag
Last Updated : 2022-01-25A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 28.
FeliciaAfter a night of intermittent sleep, I woke to the maid returning with a breakfast tray.“Good morning,” I said pleasantly, though my voice sounded a bit gravelly.Another quick movement of her eyes was all I got in response before she retreated out the door with quick, nervous steps, as though she was afraid any contact with me would communicate some dreaded illness. It was extremely frustrating, and I huffed out an exasperated sigh.But, my stomach soon grumbled with hunger, aggravated by the scent of nearby food, so I ate my breakfast like a good little prisoner and decided not to let the maid's behavior both
Last Updated : 2022-01-31A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 29.
FeliciaI sat on the bed and let out a shaky breath. The king had not indicated when he planned to marry me. But, I doubted it was far in the future. So, I needed to act quickly, but I wasn’t sure what action to take. It would probably be hours before the maid returned with my dinner, and there was no way I could shift the massive and heavy door, even if I could pick the lock. But, alas, it was situated on the far side of the door, away from me.I turned to the vanity and decided to look at the journal again. Perhaps I could glean some helpful information from it. I fished it out of its hiding place and began to read. The style and grammar were that of a child.I started at the beginning:Entry one.
Last Updated : 2022-02-07A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 30.
FeliciaI spent several hours reading the journal that afternoon. It seemed the most productive way to spend my time. The book read as follows:Entry twoThey made me sleep again. All I remember is lying down on the table and squinting my eyes at the bright lights. Doctor Smythe told me to count backward from ten, as always. Then I woke up. I was tired, and my head hurt. I think I was asleep for longer than usual this time. And whatever they had done had made mama nervous. When Doctor Smythe let me out of the lab, she ran over and hugged me with tears in her eyes. I hugged her back, but I didn't understand why she was so worried about this trip. While she held me, I listened to her talking with the doctor.“Well?” Mama a
Last Updated : 2022-02-16A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 31.
FeliciaThe hall was cold and so I gripped my arms. The first thing I noticed was the smell. Damp, mixed with what smelled suspiciously like sick and excrement. The hall was long and dark. I began to think I had gone the wrong way, heading into an endless tunnel to oblivion. Then, I came around a corner and saw light shining from under a door up ahead. I slowed my pace and concentrated on listening. But, all I could hear was my rapid breathing and heart rate. Along with the distant drip of water on stone. I realized that this part of the facility was old, ancient even. Like they had just added on, delving deeper into the mountain as the years passed. How long had my country been experimenting on its fauna and subjects I wondered. I was only a few feet from the door and I could see a shadow moving around inside. Then I felt a ripple inside my mind, a recognition, from whoever occupied the room. Hello Faizah, it's been a long
Last Updated : 2022-03-05A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 32.
FeliciaWhen I returned to my room, the maid was pacing frantically. “What were you thinking? Do you have any idea what could have happened to you? Do you have any idea what they will do to you?” she hissed at me. Her eyes were wide, and beads of sweat were visible on her brow. “I need answers. Whatever the risks involved.” I hissed back. “Now you better run along before you're missed.” She gave me one last wide-eyed look then fled my room as fast as she could. I heaved a heavy sigh and shakily sat on the side of the bed. I was having a hard time processing what...she...had told me. I didn't even know how to refer to her. She was not my sister. She was my base code. So what was I? Who was I? No more than another experiment. A pawn. And that realization was the last straw. Whether I was their creation or not I was no one's pawn. I cast my eyes toward the vanity and the secrets it held. I thought of my mother, and my emotions oscillated
Last Updated : 2022-03-18A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 33.
FeliciaThe next morning, when the maid returned, she was prepared for me, as I expected she would be. “Don't worry” I said, “I won't ambush you anymore. I'm hoping you will simply allow me to do what I need to do without such tactics.” “I want no responsibility in any of this,” she whispered. “If you get killed in your endeavors, be it on your head.” her eyes were hard. I didn't blame her for wanting to protect herself. No doubt the punishment for helping me would be nothing less than a death sentence if she were found out. But I had to do what needed to be done. “I won't blame you, and if we get caught, I'll do my best to convince them of your innocence.” “Innocence.” she scoffed “no one who steps foot in this place is innocent.” she stepped away from the door, leaving my way out clear. She stared at me with defeated eyes as I walked through the door. I felt a pang of guilt until I realized it wasn't me
Last Updated : 2022-04-01
Latest chapter
A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 39.
Faizah: When Braith caught sight of Zana, his roar made the mountain shake. But the guards jabbed him with a rod that sparked and filled the air with the smell of burning hair and flesh. Zana lunged against her captors, a deep growl emanating from her. I grabbed my head as the sheer force of her rage entered my mind. I realized she was trying to communicate with me. So I steadied myself and concentrated on her connection. Liars, betrayers! She snarled. I broke every bond with my pack, I betrayed them to save my mate, and these monsters betrayed me! They went back on their word! She sent me images of what she had done. I recognized the boy from the market in the body lying in the snow. That was hard enough. But I nearly crumbled to the floor when I felt her guilt, her anguish. I’m so sorry, she howled. And I knew it was true. I felt her sorrow. I felt how trapped she had been. How desperate she was to save her mate. My heart broke for her. “Help me now, Zana,” I pleaded “If we c
A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 38.
Faizah: The stern woman turned and started straightening a few things around the room. “For what it’s worth, you look lovely,” my maid said quietly. I glared at her. Tears smarted behind my eyes, and I clenched my fists to control them. I would rather eat horse manure than let them see me cry. I turned back to the mirror and took in my reflection. “What a lovely-looking slave,” Felicia laughed inside my head. “I am no one’s slave!” I spat at her. I turned away from the mirror. “It’s time to go, my dear,” the woman said. I reached for my cloak where it lay, draped over the back of the chair. “Oh no love, leave that here,” the stern woman said with disdain. “It will deflect from the lovely gown I made.” “But...” I started to protest, not wanting to be parted from the last vestige of my life with Gregor. But the seamstress held up a firm hand. “You’re going to be late for your wedding.” She urged me towards the door and into the dark and chilly hall. I followed the seamstress
A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 37
Faizah:I spent a sleepless night, trying to figure out what to do about Felicia. Her utter confidence gave away that she had a plan of some sort. But I couldn’t read her to find out what it was. “Don’t beat yourself up, my dear.” She said after I had been trying to probe her thoughts. “I’ve had years of practice while you just discovered your switch.” “How do you know that?” I asked. “I can read you like an open book, dear.” She said wryly. She did not need to remind me, I knew I was outgunned, “Well then, I guess I have some catching up to do.” I said, gritting my teeth and probing again. I tried many times, but all I managed to accomplish was to make my headache return. While the echos of her laughter in my mind reminded me that she took sadistic delight in my struggles. By dawn, I had given up and sat looking out the window with sleepy eyes. The sun had just cleared the crags when I saw a skyship headed for the fortress. I had never seen one in person before, but I had heard
A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 36.
Faizah:I don't understand, my lady. Dana had been silent for several seconds before she found her words again. “I’m a genetically modified clone, Dana," I sighed. “created to be put in the place of the real princess,” Why would they do that? “Because the real princess is apparently an evil sociopath.” So you’re not the Felicia we have been searching for? Dana’s confidence was breaking by the second. “Well, yes and no.” I sighed again, exasperated at this situation and by the facts of my very existence. “My mother called me Faizah, and I guess that's who I am.” She has a king switch too, doesn't she? Fear laced Dana's thoughts now. “Yes,” I said. This complicates things. This is very dangerous. Somehow I could feel that Dana had started pacing. There were never supposed to be multiple king switches. That defeats their whole purpose. “I don't know all the details, and my memory is still spotty. But I don't think Felicia is supposed to have survived this long.” Then why did sh
A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 35.
Felicia:The maid agreed to keep me informed of anything helpful she saw or heard. Periodically I heard the agonized roars of the creature that used to be Zana’s mate, Braith. But, when I tried to reach out to him with my mind, all I could get was chaos. His mind was broken. Just a jumble of overwhelming emotions was left. It broke my heart, and I had no idea how to help him, or even if he could be helped. I also had to work hard at keeping Felicia out of my mind. She wanted to taunt and manipulate me like she used to. But I was stronger now, I could keep her at bay. I didn't want her to know anything about what I was planning. I couldn't sleep that night and I spent most of it pacing the room. Then, around three in the morning, I felt an approaching presence in my mind, Dana. I went to the window. She was bearly in range of my implant, so her voice came in and out. My lady, are y- the-re? her voice was broken by static. “Yes, I'm here.” my throat became tight with excitement an
A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 34
Felicia:Lucas sat dumbfounded when I finished catching him up. “Uh...I’m not sure what to say,” he faltered huskily. He stood up and paced the room, shoving both hands through his hair. “We have to get us all out of here as soon as possible,” I said matter-of-factly. “You mean you want to bring her with us?” Lucas's eyes bugged out, and he looked at me like I was insane. “We can’t leave her here,” I argued back. “Why?!” “Because we need to know where she is and what she is doing,” I explained. “If we leave her behind, she becomes a risk. A factor we don’t have control over. And trust me, we need to be in control of her.” Lucas stood silently looking at me, a plethora of emotions crossing his face. I realized the poor guy was suddenly out of his depth. I took a step towards him and touched him on the arm gently. “Don't worry, I'll think of something,” I reassured him gently. He looked at my face and frowned slightly, then gave me a crooked smile. “Are you sure you're not the Pr
A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 33.
FeliciaThe next morning, when the maid returned, she was prepared for me, as I expected she would be. “Don't worry” I said, “I won't ambush you anymore. I'm hoping you will simply allow me to do what I need to do without such tactics.” “I want no responsibility in any of this,” she whispered. “If you get killed in your endeavors, be it on your head.” her eyes were hard. I didn't blame her for wanting to protect herself. No doubt the punishment for helping me would be nothing less than a death sentence if she were found out. But I had to do what needed to be done. “I won't blame you, and if we get caught, I'll do my best to convince them of your innocence.” “Innocence.” she scoffed “no one who steps foot in this place is innocent.” she stepped away from the door, leaving my way out clear. She stared at me with defeated eyes as I walked through the door. I felt a pang of guilt until I realized it wasn't me
A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 32.
FeliciaWhen I returned to my room, the maid was pacing frantically. “What were you thinking? Do you have any idea what could have happened to you? Do you have any idea what they will do to you?” she hissed at me. Her eyes were wide, and beads of sweat were visible on her brow. “I need answers. Whatever the risks involved.” I hissed back. “Now you better run along before you're missed.” She gave me one last wide-eyed look then fled my room as fast as she could. I heaved a heavy sigh and shakily sat on the side of the bed. I was having a hard time processing what...she...had told me. I didn't even know how to refer to her. She was not my sister. She was my base code. So what was I? Who was I? No more than another experiment. A pawn. And that realization was the last straw. Whether I was their creation or not I was no one's pawn. I cast my eyes toward the vanity and the secrets it held. I thought of my mother, and my emotions oscillated
A Prince of Wolves and Moonlight. Chapter 31.
FeliciaThe hall was cold and so I gripped my arms. The first thing I noticed was the smell. Damp, mixed with what smelled suspiciously like sick and excrement. The hall was long and dark. I began to think I had gone the wrong way, heading into an endless tunnel to oblivion. Then, I came around a corner and saw light shining from under a door up ahead. I slowed my pace and concentrated on listening. But, all I could hear was my rapid breathing and heart rate. Along with the distant drip of water on stone. I realized that this part of the facility was old, ancient even. Like they had just added on, delving deeper into the mountain as the years passed. How long had my country been experimenting on its fauna and subjects I wondered. I was only a few feet from the door and I could see a shadow moving around inside. Then I felt a ripple inside my mind, a recognition, from whoever occupied the room. Hello Faizah, it's been a long
