Synopsis:

Pain.

That was all Ashelia knew while growing up - pain.

The only person holding her together was her mother and her tales of the fallen moon and its big, black wolf.

So, when her sweet, loving mother is gone, no one is left to hold off the monsters from taking their sweet time torturing a child who couldn't fight back.

No one. Nothing.

Not until Ashelia finds herself on the run again with blood and ashes on her hands and a beast within her craving blood.

Join Ashelia on her journey as she learns to awaken the dormant beast inside, control her powers, and unravel the past, the reason why things had to go the way they did.

Chapter One:

A feathery touch glided like tickling droplets of water through silky flames of tangled strands.

Soft breaths caressed the mother's neck, a child snuggling hard against her side, head pressed tight against irreplaceable comfort. The mother hummed, gentle whispers and soothing caresses offering a blanket of warmth and a bubble of protection.

Quivering inhales tugged at her heart as the child whimpered faintly. Bruised knuckles wiped away at treacherous laments that dared escape ice-blue eyes.

A few heartbeats of silence passed before the woman settled back against the wooden pole behind her.

"Once upon a time, my dear, there was a princess that lived far, far away with her family. Happy, secure, and loved."

The kid's eyes fluttered open, drowsy but intrigued, as their attention was poked. "Mama, what is a princess?"

The mother chuckled, biting down on her bottom lip to prevent groans of pain from escaping. "A princess is a very beautiful girl. The same as you, my baby."

The look of adoration that spread across her face was quickly wiped away when the little girl pouted, her lips trembling. "Father says I am a boy. He always cuts my hair." Pudgy fingers stroked short fiery strands. "He ruins my pretty hair, Mama."

The rope tugged harshly against tender wrists as she reached higher to stroke her daughter's head but was unable to. Instead, numb cheeks rubbed against sticky ones as she cooed. "Oh, little one...It's pretty still."

"I hate father, Mama," she muttered. Even the child knew better than to say that out loud.

"As do I, Ash."

Tiny fingers framed the woman's face, noting the look of resignation, one she wore often. "Mama, the princess."

Swallowing down the lump that had formed in her constricted throat, her busted lips started moving. "She was the pride of her parents. The moon to their sun. Bright and warm when darkness wanted to take over. She shone and chased it away. The princess had a little sister-"

"What's a sister?"

The mother couldn't help her laughter. "A sibling, another little girl that you play with and take care of."

"I want a little sister to protect, Mama!" The girl whispered.

"Perhaps someday, dear. May I resume the story now?" Messy nods were her response before snuggling back into her mother's side.

"Attached at the hip, inseparable. They played. They studied. They grew up. Together," she drawled out. "They did everything together. They were loved and they loved each other."

Arms tight around her neck, the woman enjoyed her daughter's embrace. A sigh tumbled out as the two dozed off, the words fading slowly.

It wasn't long before the mother found herself retelling the tale once more, neck marred with purple finger marks, hair disheveled, skin crying red, and a battered body bound to the pole yet again.

'Time passed fast, in the blink of an eye and both of them blossomed into fine, beautiful ladies. However, the older they got, the farther apart they grew...and soon, neither recognized the other.'

Again, and again, and again.

The girl, a little older and a bit taller, shook in futile attempts to muffle her wails.

It has become a habit, to get beaten up every full moon and tied throughout the unforgiving night as wind nipped at broken skin and body oozed blood, soaking damp soil beneath her shivering figure. The daughter did her best to offer as much warmth but what could a frail child do when she was already trembling herself?

A faltering voice slipped out from between chapped lips.

'Just as the moon, the princess led a lonely life. Trapped in endless cycles of fighting away darkness and blessing vast lands beneath with tender moonbeams.'

Vicious cycles of pain and suffering. Her throat constricted.

'One creature worshipped the moon rays. As if it breathed life into their existence. A wolf, darker than the night, with eyes that rivaled the moon's holy silver rays, would lie across the edge of the steepest of cliffs and howl at the bright sphere of light. A beautiful melody to the princess, the serenade filling the void within her.'

The woman got used to each and every strike, trapped and powerless. Her gaze flitted across her daughter resting atop her lap. Two battered bodies huddled together.

'Finally less forlorn, the princess enjoyed the presence of the huge wolf and would let her silvery rays ruffle his starless fur. As time passed, it ceased to satisfy their lonely souls and both longed for more. Empty vessels seeking what they couldn't reach.'

"Do you feel lonely, mama?"

"Not when you embrace me like you do, my sweet baby."

"I am no longer a baby!" The girl protested, sticking her tongue out.

Quiet chuckles slowly turned to silent sobs. "Yes, Ashelia, you're no longer a baby." She swallowed hard. "However, you shall always be a baby in my eyes. No matter what."

The girl grinned, oblivious to her mother's dilemma, and resumed stacking rocks atop each other.

'The wolf disappeared after a while, and the princess returned to her solitude and monotonous life. After many nights of silence, her wolf climbed the cliff, racing time and struggling as his body wept sticky red. He howled, and howled, and howled. I have united all wolves, for you, he said. I have come back for you, he whispered to the Moon. Soon after, blue and silver exploded across the sky, soaking him whole. The princess had come for him.'

A set of coughs racked the mother's body, droplets of crimson tainting the palm of her hand.

'A man, with raven locks and ashen-grey eyes, rose from the ground. He wobbled at first, an infant learning how to walk. Yet, it didn't take long before he was kneeling before her. You're my Goddess, he said, and you're my Lycan, she smiled. She took him with her to her castle.'

Faint snores tickled the side of her neck, the child, slightly heavier but still a lump of bones, wrapped around their mother's hunched form.

'It wasn't long before the two were inseparable, unable to breathe, to exist, without the other. And soon, inevitably, they fell in love. The princess of the moon and the king of wolves. Many years of prosperity passed, with all wolves united under their rule.'

With a tender kiss pressed to Ashelia's forehead, the mother gently woke her up, running her other hand through fiery tendrils one last time.

"Wake up, my dear."

Ashelia's eyes fluttered open, slowly, unsurely then frantic and alert. Fingers trembled as she stroked matted, charcoal strands away from her mother's pallid face.

'Then, one night, both were separated. Viciously, heartbreakingly. With his princess presumed dead, something broke inside her Lycan. Something inside him would neither stop nor rest until the whole world was drenched in the blood of those who took away his beloved.'

The woman scooted toward her child, chest heaving and wheezing. The ropes around her thin wrists burned painfully as she tugged her arms closer. "Untie me, Ashelia."

The girl shook harder than a stranded leaf caught in a gust of wind. "B-but, father..."

The mother smiled encouragingly. "It will be alright, dear. Just do as I say."

And, she did.

"Mama?" Ashelia stuttered, her confusion only growing when her mother shuffled to her knees, looked up at the full moon, and started chanting.

Moon of finest silver wane,

I stand before you in love and in awe,

In pain and in sadness.

I ask for forgiveness and I ask for redemption.

I ask you tonight to protect my child and to grant me my wish.

I call upon the power of the full moon.

Heed my call.

When I wake in the light of morn may my spirit be reborn.

"Mama?" She repeated a little louder, a lot more frantic. "What are you doing?"

A dagger appeared in her outstretched hands - silver woven threads that led to a sharp, glistening blade.

When their eyes met, Ashelia was taken aback by the silver glint in her mother's blue eyes. "It's time, baby girl. Come here." The little girl stumbled over to her, scraping her knees in the process.

She almost dropped the dagger when it was thrust into her hold, staring at it in awe and apprehension that quickly morphed into horror when her mother finally collapsed to the ground in a messy heap of scrawny limbs and sweltering skin.

She looked on the verge of death.

Her arms shook as she reached up to hold her daughter's hands and press the blade against her faintly beating heart. "Do it, dear. Free me."

Ashelia stilled, blood rushing to her ears, and remained frozen to the spot then slowly she was aware of everything, and the words finally registered in her head. "No!" She bellowed, shaking the earth beneath them.

"It's the only way, believe me." The mother was a blubbering mess, choking and struggling to breathe. "Do it, baby girl, before it's too late. I'll come back for you, I swear. I'll come back for you and I'll save you. I will never leave you behind."

Ashelia shook her head repeatedly through her mother's pleas and broken wheezes.

"No, no, no." Weak limbs circled the small body of a shattered child. A curtain of tears blurred the girl's vision as she begged in vain. "No, mama. Please. Please."

"It's the only way, dear." Pulling her daughter closer, a terse inhale cut through the air as small hands pushed the weapon deeper, deeper, deeper.

MEANING OF THE WORDS USED:

Ashelia means from the ashes, reborn like a phoenix, with a lot of power and character alike.