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99. Tower
Last Updated:
2024-04-14 11:10:20Related chapters
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 100. Pleasant
Callista. When I wake up the next morning, I feel fresher than I'd felt in a long time. There had been no nightmares last night, and my mind was far less haunted than before. My eyes and my head don't hurt from waking up from sleep numerous times, and for the first time in a while, I can enjoy the morning. Until I realize where I actually am. Sunlight streams inside the warded bedroom and the way it contrasts with the coldness in the atmosphere is almost delicious. I let them touch my skin, and warm me from the inside. When I breathe, I see fog. How far up in the sky am I? Stretching, I step into the bathroom and brush my teeth. I don't feel like taking a shower, but I want to make a good impression, so reluctantly I step under the water. It's nice and toasty while it lasts, but the minute I step out it feels like I'm freezing. It doesn't matter if the room is heated, the cold on the outside somehow seeps in. I quickly get dressed in the warmest clothes I can find and escape to
Last Updated : 2024-04-14Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 101. Echo
Callista.We are led out of the tower from a different entrance than the one we came in. As soon as we step out of the door, the feeling of teleportation takes over.“Oh, shit!” I start but only get to and it when we materialize someplace different from the tower.It is a bizarre-looking facility, but very in line with the Guild. It's a wall-less building, with numerous levels. The whole building is built around a large tree that soars up into the sky. The branches support the various levels coupled with magic. Enchanted stairways lead from one level to another, according to the wish of the user. They're like escalators, but movable from level to level. I see various hospital equipment along with various non-mundane equipment all around. There are many people milling around, dressed in all kinds of archaic clothing, but the ones wearing light purple robes with deep violet cloaks held by copper-colored chains. Theon tells me that they are the physicians, basically, the ones who rule t
Last Updated : 2024-04-16Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 102. Horror
Callista."How bad?" The Headmistress asks.The physicians look amongst themselves, and by the way, the Headmistress stiffens, I have a feeling that them being so uncertain and worried isn’t common.It’s physician Thulile who answers."Her mind is fragmented,” she flicks her arm in the air and an orange glowing sphere appears, and as soon as it does, it breaks into small pieces, all hovering in the air. “And the broken fragments are creating a dark barrier around her mind, protecting the malevolence that resides inside.”Black tendrils erupt from the fragments and link each other, creating a dark barrier. Within it a silhouette of a girl appears, eerily similar to me, but her eyes which are her only discernable feature, are red. I’ve seen those red eyes before.“The malevolence wants to end her eventually, but for now it plays with her."The dark barrier vanishes, and with it, the girl disappears with a scream.I shudder and don’t even try to hide the horror I feel."This Chamber of D
Last Updated : 2024-04-19Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 103. Dark Magic
Callista.With a gasp, I wake up, and like a broken dam, the real world floods into my perspective.The rain has stopped already, and the clouds roll peacefully once again. I see sunshine and I feel the warmth. But I'm dripping with sweat, and I’m panting unstoppably.When I look to the side, I notice a furiously whispering huddle of physicians at the other end of the room.Something clinks from my side, and I turn my head to see the Headmistress undoing my shackles with a carefully blank expression."How are you feeling, Callista?" She asks, helping me to stand up after all the shackles were undone. My knees are still weak, so I lean against the bed."Like I got caught in a tornado," I say, shaking my head to stop the wiggling feeling inside my skull. It's like I have worms in my brain or something. “Like I’ve been on the world’s worst rollercoaster while having motion sickness.”"Do you feel nauseous? Do you require water?""No, thanks, I think I'll just sit down." I sit on the bed
Last Updated : 2024-04-24Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 104. Tree
Theon.Callista starts to sob uncontrollably, hanging onto my shoulders. Haden stares at us and I can feel his wide eyes even through the mask.I'm frozen on the spot."Callista?" I ask in a soft voice, "What happened?"What did they do to her up there? Did they hurt her? Did they try to break into her mind? Was she hurt? Such thoughts swirl in my mind as I feel the rage boiling in me. Someone made my mate cry, someone hurt my mate, and I'm going to fucking claw their throats out-My eyes widen as I register my thoughts."Calm down," I tell my wolf who's already plotting murder. "We don't even know what happened.""Mate hurt!""Let me handle this."“She’s hurt!”“We don’t know that for sure, shut up and let me deal with this, will you?!”Haden raises the goggle part of his mask and his hazel eyes stare at me. His eyebrows raise as if he's asking me what the hell I'm doing.I raise my eyebrows trying to convey a panicked ‘What am I supposed to do? She won't' talk!’ without words.Rolli
Last Updated : 2024-04-24Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 105. Bold
Callista.I don't know where I got the courage to actually do it. Mere months ago, I would not have been brave enough to even think about it. But now, looking into his dark, dark eyes, it felt like the most natural thing to do. The next step of our journey, the next step in cementing the newfound trust between him and I, our new beginning where we did not hate each other. Under the ancient tree that hosts the hospital, lulled into serenity by a light breeze that rustled the eaves above us, we kissed for what felt like an eternity. His lips were both soft and firm on my own, and the intensity of it made my knees buckle. Pressed against each other, it felt like we were one entity.It was real. This is real. I am conscious and I am kissing Theon.My heart soars to the clouds, and all that broke in me when I became the stealer starts to heal just a little bit.The kiss comes to an end, slowly and gently. My cheeks burn as I have difficulty meeting his eyes, as fear and old insecurities
Last Updated : 2024-05-17Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 106. Interlude
Interlude.He stands in front of the barrier, surrounded by the dark forest. He could feel the energy ebb within the trees, rising and flowing, rising and flowing. He could also feel the energy of the wind, ever kinetic, with the potential of becoming dark and destructive. He feels the energy of the impending rain, of the rumbling thunder and flashing lightning.He feels this energy, and with words of old, in a language long forgotten by most who live, he invites this energy.It answers him, purring as if it's meeting a long-lost lover. The energy comes willingly, excitedly, and finally overjoyed that some can remember their own language. Everything has a language; you just have to be mindful enough to learn it, to let it flow from your tongue, and most important of them all, remember it.He directs the energy to the barrier, strengthening it.He demands it to "hide us, hide us from those who want to do us harm, hide us from those who want to thwart our plans, hide us from those who w
Last Updated : 2024-05-17Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 107. Meditation
Callista."So," I say, leveling everyone with dubious looks. "You guys talked for like, five days, and came to the conclusion that the cure I need is...meditation?"I try not to sound too condescending, because even though the idea seems silly, these guys are witches with immense magical power, and it was never a good idea to cross them.But still, meditation! They had magic and they wanted me to do meditation?!The Headmistress gazes at me serenely, unbothered by whatever it was I was trying to imply."Yes, meditation, while the physicians try to replace the dark magic that resides in your mind with light." She adds the part I conveniently left out.It had been five days since I came to the Witches Guild. After Theon left, I was told by the Headmistress that I could keep on using the room until they moved me to the hospital for my future treatments upon their decision.For five days, all I'd gotten was radio silence. In the meantime, I was told to enjoy my 'holiday' leisurely. Easie
Last Updated : 2024-05-23
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Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 204. Duel
Theon"Theon, are you crazy?!" Kellin shouts as we run down a staircase that leads to the ground floor of the keep. "You can't challenge him to a duel like you are, he's the Alpha King!""I have to try, Kellin," I throw over my shoulder without breaking my stride. "That fucker used the voice about ten times for just shits and giggles. He’s got no thought of consequence at all! I can't have someone like him, a sociopath, running around holding that much power.""I agree with everything you said about Leighwen but is this the time?" Kellin grabs me by the shoulder, finally halting me. He turns me so he can look at me, wearing a very worried expression. “You’re an average wolf now, and you’re weak enough from the wolfsbane. Please, think this through. Screw honor, let’s attack him together. Let’s take him down without a duel. This is madness and you know it, Alpha!”"No, Kellin. I’m afraid this is how we have to do it,” I say. "I’ve never fought with dishonor in my life, and I can’t star
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 203. Challenge
TheonI punch the mouthy guard on his face, giving him a bloody nose, and use his surprise to kick him in the stomach. The guard falls on his back, groaning, and I kick him in the ribs for good measure. The guard crumples with that, curling into a fetal position. I feel a bit bad, but in hindsight, they shouldn't have come to take over my pack if they wanted to be unharmed. The hallways are filled with werewolves in both human and wolf forms fighting one another, and I try to navigate through the chaos to chase after Farris and Valencia. I'd seen them run away moments ago toward the direction of the eastern wing, and I couldn't let them escape. I had to get my power back.More and more guards still in their human forms lunge at me, and I get distracted trying to fight them all. It's not easy because although I feel better than I did before, I am still recovering."Alpha!" A maid calls next to me, pummeling a guard with a broom. "We can handle it here! You need to find the Gamma, rig
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 202. Save
TheonThe vines that are twisted around my waist literally throw me into a castle hallway through a window, right in the middle of a bunch of castle staff who scream as soon as they see me. "Alpha?!" they exclaim, gaping at me with wide eyes. "How did you do that?"I scramble to my feet, feeling as if I've gone on a roller coaster. In a way, I had. Except with vines...that moved...on their own?What?I shake my head and focus on my surroundings. I recognize the part of the castle where I am. This is the west wing, which was barricaded against the hostiles using the gates. I focus on my people, and I notice that they are all carrying things like rolling pins, brooms, iron skillets, etc. in their hands."What are you doing?" I ask them, feeling as if my mind was jumbling with everything that's just happened. A moment ago, I was chained to a pole and now I was with the castle staff, in the castle. One maid lifts a butcher's knife. "We're going to fight against the hostiles on the Gamm
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 201. Heal
CallistaThe rogue wolf's teeth connect with my arm, and I cry out. My whole hand goes numb from the pain as his jaws tighten around my flesh, and blood spurts out into his mouth."No!" Ophelia yells, and a vine shoots at the wolf, tightening around his midriff."Let go of my friend!" Ophelia screams and the vines yank the wolf off my arm. But the wolf doesn't let go in time, and its sharp teeth drag through my skin. I see stars from the pain."Oh, my Goddess, Callista I'm so sorry!" Ophelia yells."It's okay," I mutter through gritted teeth, trying to see clearly through the tears that blur my sight. The rogues stare at the wolf who was thrown away by the vines.That's when the strangest thing happens. The wolf who attacked me started to convulse violently as if someone was shaking him from the inside. It makes the other rogues back away from fear. The rogue wolf starts to froth from his mouth and whimper as if he were a wounded animal. "What's happening?" Ophelia exclaims next to
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 200. Creature
Callista"Take that!" I fling the chain at a wolf, and my ring guides my hand. The chain hits the rogue's snout with a firm smack, hitting hard enough to break the skin. With a yelp, the rogue jumps back, licking at his snout. "You want it too?!" I scream at the others, spiraling the loose corner of the chain. "Well, come and get it!"A rogue tries to jump at me from behind, but my amulet is more intuitive. It guides my hands and the chains whip at the underbelly of the wolf, making it fall to the ground with a thud. I cross my arms to create a shield as the rest of the wolves pounce at me, all at once. Their speed and strength work to their own disadvantage, as they hit my shield hard, flying back. "Impressive!" Farris claps from the outside, mockingly with a sardonic grin. "You almost had me there. Almost. Say, Callista, what do you think is the best thing about rogues?”He doesn’t wait for an answer. “Unless you kill them, they always get up!"Sure enough, the fallen rogues only
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 199. Failure
TheonAs soon as the chains unlock, the wolves get up. They shimmy the chains off their bodies and kick their limbs to get used to standing up.Then they turn to Callista.I can't even scream as they start circling her, because my throat is locked from Farris’ order. I never ever thought that I would be the one on the receiving side of the voice of the Alpha King. It just shows more of how much of a failure I am as a leader. I fell for a forged document and risked the life of an innocent wolf, who was also my mate. I tortured her, I made her escape right into the hands of a new danger. I publicly humiliated her. I fell for her sister's scheming like some little boy who knew nothing about the world. I trusted someone who once tried to kill my freaking brother. Goddess, why were my people still loyal to me? I didn't deserve it. I didn't deserve any of it. I didn't deserve to be the Alpha King. I don't feel as weak as I did before. The damage done to my body by Wolfsbane was greatly
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 198. Council
CallistaTheon’s scream is raw as the guards drag me to the cage. They open the door and push me in. The metal clang of the gate closing is distinct, even with the roar of the crowd surrounding us. I feel numb. It all happens so fast after that. Farris uses his voice on the crowd to silence them again as the guards carry five heavily chained wolves into the town square. They all have ruby-red eyes that signify they are rogues. The guards open the other gates that lead to the cage and push the rogue wolves, who are already growling inside. The locks that hold the chains together are automatic. It will only take one click of a remote button to release them. I can see their blood-tinged fangs as they clash with the black of the chains, and their eyes as they stare at me like I am prey. I am frozen where I stand. No thought registers in my head except a constant, desperate voice chanting the word 'Run!" repeatedly in my mind. But where the hell am I supposed to run? I'm trapped in a c
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 197. Voice
CallistaI'm dragged out of the castle by the two guards that hold me. I don't know where they are taking me, because I haven't actually been into the Rexellen pack town. I have driven past it two times, and both times we took some sort of an off-road that circled the town. But this time I'm dragged right to the center of the town. There are people swarming us, standing on either side of the snow-laden roads. Some of them, the unmated wolves, are wearing masks and I wonder why they were here. They watch me with fearful eyes as I walk through them. That's one thing they all have in common. Fear in their expressions. They are afraid.Are they afraid for me, or of me?The construction projects are almost completed but still covered, and the town looks gloomy. Snow still falls but not as much as before. I can't see Theon or even Farris. Or Valencia.Although I try to appear calm, I am panicking inside. What's happening? Why are they taking me outside? Why are all the townspeople in atte
Once A Luna, Now A Stealer? 196. Forge
CallistaThe guards manhandle us, shoving us up the stairs. I can feel Theon’s embarrassment from where I stand. He's too weak to even stand without support yet, much less walk. The effects of Wolfsbane mixed with him losing his birthright have affected him greatly, and he needs some more time to recover.Of course, Farris is not going to give us that time. We are both taken to Theon's study, where Farris sits behind Theon's desk, on the chair that belongs to Theon. He's flitting through some papers, and as soon as Theon sees him, he starts to struggle."Those are confidential information!" he yells at Farris who rolls his eyes."True, and I am the Alpha King now, so I can do whatever I want with any confidential information regarding this pack. My pack," Farris shrugs, turning to another paper."What? No, you can't. We can only access those with the permission of the person they belong to only. What kind of an Alpha are you if you don't know that?!" Theon exclaims, anger seeping fro
