Beyond the Living

le, watching as Luna knelt beside her

ans?" Nicholas as

rave. "I'll be returning to my ho

a? Will you tak

she wou

uncle is returning to his homeland. You can

r-filled eyes, then glanced at he

I had a moment alone w

carriage, his mind already occupied with the p

e lord?" Luna's uncle asked,

Yes, I will. I

visit whenever I can." A bitt

joined Nicholas, who was wai

?" he

dded si

*

the carriage returning. She rose and went to

in shock, having lost her aunt and facing the uncertainty of

ructed Michael, who had hurried out to greet t

han to question the lord's decision. He

happened?" she asked, her gaze fl

a," Nicholas

ensing that something s

t as Luna followed Mich

he fire," Michael said, o

nodded, unab

ed and excu

here would she go if she left? She had no one but her uncle, an

*

s asked when Michael

ost in thoug

las n

as," Michael b

mm

est to keep her close, especially considering her... kind." Michael delicately alluded to Luna's

said. "Will you be having

y room, that would be appreciated," Nicho

her to knock. Deciding against disturbing he

*

she noticed a shadow lingering outside her door. Curious,

thing you need

g?" he asked, his

she replied. "Thank you

me," he said. "You can s

from his. As he opened his door, she caught a glimpse of his room, the walls

ay down on the bed without bothering with the covers. E

*

er hand, and looked around, confused. She wasn't in the room wher

her to a small village she recognized all too well: the v

scene unfolding before her. The screams of villager

arriving just in time to

watched her aunt's death over and over a

*

d if a servant had spilled something, but a glance at the clock told him it was three

ened his door, following the scent. It led him to Luna'

he might have been frightened, alone in a new place

s across the room. He noticed Luna's shivering for

the fire, watching the flames flicker back to lif

was just a dream," he whis

g to him, burying her face in his chest. Her heart pounded

, holding her close. "I'

s chin on her head, offering co