Page 39 of Luna

“What happened?” I ask, rubbing my temples to ease the growing tension headache. The pain is spreading, creeping up from my lower back to my shoulders, making it hard to concentrate.

“She double-crossed him. Lucien had to... end her reign.” Kim’s voice is cautious, measured. He’s clearly choosing his words carefully, and I can’t help but wonder what he’s not telling me.

A chill runs down my spine as I remember the vampire’s words. “They said Lucien ate her heart. Is that true?”

“He did. And... so did I.”

I frown at him for a moment then feel myself recoil slightly, shock coursing through me. The pain momentarily forgotten as I try to process the image forming in my mind. “But you’re human. Why would you...?”

Kim stands abruptly, moving towards the door. His sudden movement makes me flinch, and I hate myself for it. He doesn’t seem like a threat, but after everything that’s happened, I can’t help but be on edge.

“I’m human, yes, but I’m also a demon hunter. I have hunter blood,” he explains, his voice tight. “It’s a long story.”

“I have time,” I tell him, trying to smile.

He doesn’t smile back. “I was struggling to accept my identity. Eating the heart seemed symbolic. A good idea at the time.”

As he reaches for the doorknob, I call out, ignoring the stabbing pain in my joints as I stand up, blanket wrapped tightly around me. “Wait! I have a favor to ask.”

He pauses, turning back to me with a softness in his eyes that wasn’t there before. It is so different from the way Lucien looks at me.

I take a deep breath, trying to push past the discomfort. My whole body feels like it’s on fire now, each movement sending waves of pain through me. “Could you ask Lucien if he can get my pills from the bookshop? I’m in a lot of pain, and I really need them.”

Kim’s expression softens further. He nods, “I’ll ask him. No promises, but I’ll try.” He hesitates for a moment, then asks, “Are you going to try to escape again?”

The question catches me off guard. I look up at him, searching his face for any sign of what he thinks I should do. “Do you think I should?”

Kim looks thoughtful, his brow furrowing slightly. After a moment, he replies, “On the whole I’d say, right now, you’re safer here than anywhere else.” He meets my eyes, his gaze steady and sincere. “But if that changes, I promise I will tell you.”

The weight of his words settles over me. I nod slowly, processing what he’s said. There’s something reassuring about his promise, even though I barely know him.

As he leaves, locking the door behind him, I curl up in the chair, hugging my knees to my chest. The pain is getting worse. Even if I wanted to escape, the adrenaline and exertion of my first attempt has rendered me next to useless.

I stand and cross over to the bed. I lie down, but I am no more comfortable here than I was in the chair.

Staring at the drapes that box in the four-poster bed, I try to focus on my breathing and not the way my body feels.

I feel suddenly lonely, and the weight of being completely trapped presses down on my fragile chest.

I close my eyes and picture the kindness in Kim’s eyes.

I can’t help but compare him to Lucien. Where Lucien is all intensity and danger, Kim seems... normal. Almost reassuringly so. But then I remember what he said about eating a vampire queen’s heart, and being a demon hunter, and I shudder. Maybe there are no normal people in this world I’ve fallen into.

I turn onto my side and prop a pillow between my legs – a trick a physiotherapist showed me once to help ease the ache in my lower body.

It doesn’t help much.

The pain is becoming unbearable now. And without my medication, I know it will only get worse.

I try using the techniques I’ve learned over the years to manage the pain – breathwork, meditation, tapping – but it’s hard to concentrate. My mind keeps wandering back to the events at the bookshop, to Lucien’s intense gaze, to Kim’s gentle hands as he bandaged my cut.

I wonder if Kim will really ask Lucien about my meds or if he was just saying that to placate me. And even if he does ask, will Lucien care?

As another wave of pain washes over me, I close my eyes tightly. I’m trapped in this room, in this mansion, in this body that feels like it’s betraying me.

I have no idea how I’m going to get out of any of it. Or if i’ll have a job to return to when I do because, surely, if I fail to turn up to work for more than twenty-four-hours my boss will fire me.

But Kim’s words echo in my mind – I’m safer here.