AMAARE ⎸aa - maa - raay ⎸Indian & Latin known to mean ''immortal'' and ''everlasting'' ; Italian translation means ''to love''
The fear crept down our village streets just as the Blood Moon began to rise from behind the mountains, protecting us from winter floods.
The women of the households placed beautiful pots of flowers at their doorsteps; the streets were swept clean with brooms, free from dust and mud; the temple never looked more beautiful as it shone with expensive, scented candles.
Everything looked in the best possible light that was possible - something everyone could remember before our memories would be wiped clean from existence in our minds. As if they purposely left that part in our heads so we would know how to greet them once they arrive. Which made everyone feel more on edge.
I was sure everyone was feeling the same as I was feeling - as if we took a step too close to the edge, we might fall into an unforgiving darkness and our doom.
As I passed by our central park square, I noticed Orion smiling like a true charmer he was, leaning against one of the older mud houses, while probably promising to conquer oceans and move mountains to one more innocent girl.
The girl was looking up at him with her big auburn eyes while her round lips were softly forming a circle. She was amazed by his charm - just like the girl last week… and week before… and week before… Just like every past girl he encountered.
Orion noticed me almost a few seconds after I caught him trying to sneak his way under another girl's skirts, quickly blew a kiss to the girl, and hopped to me. I was so close to slapping the back of his head. ''Hello, Lady Sunshine!'' He almost sang, way too loud for my liking - a few passing villagers gave us a short glance.
Luckily, everyone got used to his charms.
''I told you, I'm no Lady,'' I grumbled, holding my basket filled with white fur a bit tighter.
He laughed as he threw his arm over my shoulders and we began to walk toward the make-shift podium where everyone was displaying their goods neatly - such as homemade pancakes, honey biscuits, iron tools and weapons, and so many nice things one Darkening would surely want in their possession.
I was sure the Elders knew why we were displaying it - surely to bribe a Darkening to leave that family in peace.
Just as I was about to leave my basket, one of the Elders approached us.
She was a nice, older woman in her 70s, one of the rare ones who survived almost seven Blood Moons. But after each of the century's Blood Moon, she'd isolate herself from everyone for a good couple of weeks. It sometimes seemed as if she knew more than she would say.
Her kind dark hazel eyes were so soft and soul-touching, she might have been a witch - a good one at least.
"Orion… "She bowed her head ever-so-slightly to my friend, then her focus was back on me. "Luneth." Her skinny hands took one of mine. "How are you, dear?"
She has always been a fan of my mother, always giving her advice that would help us survive through the winter, so she just continued her kindness to me after my mother was taken.
I gave her one of my rare smiles, barely lifting the corners of my lips. It felt so unnatural to show happiness after my mother's disappearance. "I'm fine, Miss Agatha. How are you?"
Her eyes stormed with trouble after my question. Seeming as if I touched something that should have been touched. "I'm walking, so that's good." She indeed was walking, and that was good for someone her age in our village. "I'm just worried about tonight. I have a bad feeling about it."
Everyone had bad feelings about the Blood Moon. Well, at least everyone except for -
"Oh, my Ladiessss…" Orion drawled the word, smiling like a young charmer he was. I was sure he might as well give us a big smooch. "Everything is going to be alright. Immortals will get some of our goods, maybe say a few things, and go on their way.''
Sometimes I loved Orion's positivity, although in that situation I dreaded it.
It seemed Miss Agatha hated him just the same as I did at that moment. "Your foolishness never escapes to amaze me, young Orion." I had a feeling as if she wanted to say much more, but because of her politeness and usual calmness, it stopped her from scolding him more.
I glanced up at the podium, which was decorated with all of the prettiest flowers the children of the village could find in the meadows surrounding the village. The flowers in their white, purple, and pink glory softened the dark woods that were almost half rotten.
Behind the podium was a path made with leaves, flowers, and shiniest stones that was leading to the edge of the woods, from where the Darkenings were to come. I couldn't figure out why it was a tradition to show them a way, when the moment they'd step on those pretty colors, everything would rot and discolour.
Everything that was even slightly beautiful was destined to rot and be unalived by their hands.
It was just one of many reasons why I hated them.
''Where is your darling sister, Luneth?'' Miss Agatha wondered.
''She should be here soon.'' I began to watch around myself, to catch the light red hair bouncing somewhere in the crowd of the villagers. ''Lirae was one of the villagers who helped to decorate the square.'' While I was hunting for more animals in the woods, I could present the gifts from our house. I doubted Darkenings gave two fucks about pretty flowers and shiny stones - they were here for one thing. Or multiple things. I just couldn't remember what.
Orion, just as always, gave ten iron roses, which he crafted at his father's shop. His father was undoubtingly scowling at him for not making knives, swords, and shields like his other four brothers, but Orion was different than them. He cherished the power of peace - at least, that's what he always told me while helping me hunt.
For someone with such a soft heart, he was an excellent hardwareman and a hunter.
Although he always hunted for predators - like foxes, owls, snakes…
While I hunted for everything that could feed my sister and me.
My attention was caught by the bouncy red locks of hair quickly approaching me while navigating through the crowd. Her beautiful, round, almost golden eyes were framed with black and long eyelashes, just like our mother's. She was a bit shorter than me - probably around five feet and four inches, while I was five feet and eight inches.
Everyone in the village adored her because of her bubbly, happy, calm, and gracious personality. For someone her age, barely reaching seventeen, she was one of the most wanted girls in our village. I was sure that next year many bachelors would ask me for her hand. Since I was the oldest in our household, it was my responsibility to protect her innocence.
Lirae approached us while fashioning one of her sweet smiles, and she locked her arms around my forearm once she was close enough. ''Good evening, Miss Agatha.'' Her voice was truly like a melody even when she wasn't trying to sing. ''Are you excited to see Immortals?''
Miss Agatha almost smiled when Lirae approached us, but Lirae's question wiped away even the possibility of a smile. ''No, my child.'' She began walking to the podium. I noticed she was carrying old books in leather covers as her gift. ''Neither should you.'' She added over her shoulder.
I shared a look with Orion, who was still having his arm thrown over my shoulders. We were both confused about Miss Agatha's input. She knew more than she could admit. Perhaps in her dozens of the Blood Moons, some fragments of what might take place were left in her mortal mind.
Oh, I remember this part.
The coldness of fear wrapped up around my spine, the blood in my veins started pumping slower, while a few drops of cold sweat ran down behind my ears, over my neck, to my breasts. The Immortals, or how we who hated them called them Darknenings, were approaching our village.
My eyes were fixated on the edge of the woods.
Just as the first of them, dressed in Royal blue colors, stepped on the path of flowers, and the first flower started to die, Orion squeezed my shoulders and quickly whispered in my ear. ''Whatever happens tonight, I'll be by your side.''
I watched as at least twenty Darkenings began to approach. Most of them were wearing Royal colors. Which meant someone from the Castle of Shadows was here. At least one member so powerful that they could swallow our whole village with their Gifts was approaching the village.
I lifted my gaze to Orion. I knew I looked like a deer caught in a bear's trap. ''Protect Lirae if anything happens tonight.'' Just when he was about to protest how everything would be fine, I cut him off. ''Something bad, very bad, is about to happen. Protect her.''
Orion knew I didn't need his protection - if anything, I was the one who could protect him if shit got way too uncontrollable and bad.
He simply nodded, eying my sister at my other side, who looked like a child ready to touch their favorite toys on their birthday.
Oh, you foolish, young, innocent girl.