Under Three Moons - Prologue

Prologue - Moonsflower

It began in the moonsglow beneath a Lacrimosal Tree, its branches gleaming with luna sap. Nestled in the cluster of dark crimson roots was a single moonsflower in rare form, for its petals only bloomed during Convergence, in which The Three Sister Moons danced in the cosmos, their magick radiating through the ivory thistle and copperlilies of Sioga Valley.

Suddenly, the dirt near the Lacrimosal Tree broke open, revealing a faedra* who had slumbered in the earth. Lacrimosal roots twined around her limbs, more like a caress than a restraint. She was stark naked, her cerulean skin covered in nothing but a mist of luna sap. Her body was slender except for her swollen belly, which glowed faintly with the light of her unborn child. She unfurled her brilliant sapphire blue wings as she doubled over in pain. She desperately plucked the moonsflower from the ground, her hands, casting a flame spell to burn its petals.

She inhaled the incense of the burning flower, becoming dazed from the sweet yet pungent aroma. The light in her belly brightened, intensifying as the faedra clutched desperately at the Lacrimosal Tree’s roots.

“Oh!” she cried out to the night air. “Oh, Mother…I wish you were here.” She sobbed in earnest as her contractions worsened. The intensity of her glowing womb was burning her skin. “I will not survive! I can’t do this!”

She bayed to the moons as she gave birth, each push draining her of magick and energy. She knew it was unwise to do this in the dead of night without protection, but she couldn’t handle the thought of others seeing her in such a state.

She tore clods of dirt from the ground, shoving it into her mouth to staunch her sharp wails. The glowing from her belly spread through her veins, eventually blinding her eyes. The agony burned through her limbs like tendrils of white hot flame. She began bearing down as her body buckled. Her fingers clawed into the earth as she fought against her pain to birth her child. Each push was a thousand daggers, wrenching her open, ripping her apart.

On the last push, she collapsed backward, only having enough strength to clutch the wriggling babe, still slimy and curled in its wings. The cries of the newborn replaced her own. The faedra’s eyes dimmed enough to see the babe was cocooned in her matching pair of sapphire wings, curled up tight around her tiny body like a swaddle cloth. The faedra knew she would be a daughter. Her dreams of this child had been too vibrant, dreams of a verdant-haired princess fluttering around the Fae Gardens.

She placed the babe on her breast to nurse and she cried out when she felt fangs piercing her flesh.

“Oh, Mother, forgive me. Forgive me for this abomination.” she whispered brokenly. “I pray that they hate me instead of my daughter. She is not to blame.”

The babe’s fangs retracted as its thirst was sated. The faedra looked down upon her halfling. She both despaired and swelled with love when two glowing purple eyes gazed back at her.

“You have your father’s eyes, my sweet. I hope you have his courage as well.”

The cherubic babe’s face yawned and soon fell asleep. The faedra felt the life and light leaving her. She prayed to the Moons that her babe would not be harmed. This would be her last thought within the living realm as her soul left her mortal form.