Chapter 83

**LORENZO/ CASPIAN'S POV**

The Moon was shining bright, and to everyone else, it was casting its beautiful glow upon the entire universe, portraying the beauty of the Almighty's creation, and the Moon Goddess's ability to maintain the beauty.

But that was the exact opposite of how I felt...

Seline was just up there, having the most fun and dishing out consequences no matter how harsh and inhumane they were. She also kept the moon up there, to watch her subjects suffer and mock them, in a way.

The moon, once a symbol of serenity, purity and strength, now taunted me, and the essence of my existence.

After Seline proved that her whims dictated the fate of our realm, by revealing her cruel justice, I've lost every excitement and emotions still left in my embittered soul.

I stood by the window, gazing up at the moon, my heart tightening with pains.

I clenched my fists, my anger heightening, as I glared at the full moon.

"You didn't have to involve Luciana." I yelled, veins popping out of my neck. "She didn't do anything to deserve all of these!"

A heavy wind blew, as a result of my emotions, but I cared less.

We were wrong, but isn't she also wrong?

What punishment is worse than eternal life? rather, eternal suffering? With lingering pains and gory memories.

"Let Luciana go! Set her free" I yelled, louder than the first time, but as usual there wasn't any response, instead the moon goddess just hid behind the moon, as she's always done after starting a fire.

"You're incapable of anything good!!" I yelled clenching my fists, hoping somehow that my yells will infuriate her, and send her down. "No wonder your child left you!"

"Lorenzo! What the hell are you doing?." Lincoln yelled rushing to me. "Stop cussing, you'll be punished."

I scoffed, my chest heaving, and fury coursing through my veins. "What punishment is worse than this?"

"Avoid provoking her more, at this juncture, we're supposed to be pacifying her, and hoping the day she'll eventually take pity on us, will come." Lincoln said, his mind drifting to thoughts.

He's calm,just like the rest of them, certainly not me. She can't punish me and everybody I love this much, and expect some form of reverence from me..that's a joke!.

"She's lost every form of compassion Lincoln."

"No...you've lost all confidence in her, and just like Lincoln said the last time, you need help, from your own self." Edgar said, joining us.

I had no idea he was in, I thought he'd taken a stroll, or probably gone on a mission.

"Mind your own business!" I snapped, not sparing him a glance.

Edgar's calm demeanour didn't waver, instead he let out a small smile.

That's a rare feature of fairies, their ability to control their anger, and act adorable regardless of the situation at hand.

"Caspian, your anger will consume you" he stated softly.

I scoffed, glaring at him, my fury unabated.

"You don't understand," I spat. "You can't, no matter how hard you try to."

Sensing what was ahead, Lincoln intervened, placing an arm over my shoulder. "We're only trying to help."

"Help?" I repeated, disbelief etched on my face. "How can you even help me, when I can't forgive myself? Each day and night I curse myself for stepping into her life to ruin the perfect bliss."

"And how many times do I have to tell you, that all these were bound from the beginning to happen." Lincoln half yelled, growing frustrated. "I know you feel guilty about your fate, mine and hers...but there's literally nothing we can do."

There he goes again, sounding just like everyone else...there's definitely something that can be done and I'm sure of that.

I shook off Lincoln's arm, my gaze locked on Edgar.

"You're right, Lincoln." I muttered, my voice thick with sarcasm. "There's nothing we can do."

"Don't say that Lorenzo." Came Edgar's soft voice. "Our destinies and fate have been plotted from the very beginning."

"I refuse to accept that," I snapped,my gaze growing distant. "There must be a way to change our fate, or at least save her."

"Caspian..." Lincoln's voice trailed off, concerned clearly written on his face. "You know we've explored every option. The Moon Goddess's power is absolute."

"Then what's the point!" I yelled. "Why concern myself with any of these?."

"Because...even in despair, there's hope" He whispered, going into deep thoughts. "And as long as we have each other, we can face whatever comes next.

I scoffed at his words. What kind of dumb assurance, at such a dumb hour, was he giving?.

"Hope? You call this hope? Eternal life, her suffering, eternal pains..look that's not pain but hell!."

Edgar's expression faltered, his eyes filled with deep sadness. "I know it's hard to endure now, but.."

"Are you really sure you know?" I cut him off, my anger putting me on the edge. "Do you know what it feels like to have lived in misery for over a thousand years? To watch the person you love suffer because you came into her life? Or to have lived 900 years in deep regrets and eternal suffering?."

The room fell silent, with each man articulating his own thoughts.

Edgar finally spoke up, with a glint of hope in his eyes. "We're trying to help find a way out."

I scoffed. Does he even know what that means?.

"But you said there's no way." I replied, my fist clenching. "Didn't you say it yourself, That the Moon Goddess's power is absolute?. We're trapped in this never ending nightmare."

The room fell silent again, although heavy with unspoken words.

Now the witches are back...after all these years. What do they want this time?.

The last time they returned, their attacks were bloody, as they literally got whoever they wanted, while I watched with amusement, until the Moon Goddess intervened.

She's never on time.

The memories of the witches' past atrocities sent chills down my spine.

Have they perhaps found something to use against the other races, or they're just being snakes as usual?.

I growled slowly, my eyes looking sunken from so many unsettled emotions, sleepless nights, and near death experiences; the worst of them all...that point where I get to relive the haunting memories, not leaving out the guilt and pains that followed.

"We're all going to be fine." Lincoln muttered, but one keen stare at him, one could detect that he didn't even believe in his own words.

...

"Caspian don't believe them," Luciana pleaded, her eyes growing misty. "Meeting you and looking up to you like that big brother I don't have, has been the best feeling ever."

I shook my head, my eyes also growing misty. This isn't what I wanted, this isn't something I envisaged. So what now?

A tear slid down my eyes as I turned to go.

"Please, stay." She whispered, wrapping her tiny arms around my tummy, as she hugged me from behind. "I don't want you to listen to him, he doesn't seem genuine."

"I'll be careful" was all I could utter without breaking down, and with one last glance, I walked away from her.

That was it, where everything began

...

I suddenly felt another presence in the room, and my gaze snapped..