Moonbound Series: Cadia Riverlands

Prologue

1825

ELEANOR ROSWELL’S POV

As soon as we stepped in the forest, the woods swallowed us whole. The fiery orange radiant of the twilight sun blending with deep coral illuminated the shadows of the trees. It was broad daylight when we came here but as soon as we entered this mystical woods, it appeared that it had its own time.

Wouldn't deny that this place was paradise, and didn't even expect that something so majestic existed, since it could only be found in the heart of the mountains.

“We came and we brought people as we always promise,” my brother Jasper stated.

From the glittering grove that stood in the middle of the crystalized river, a golden smoke emerged. It gathered in front of the grove and formed an image of golden eyes, the usual form that we had always seen. It was floating above the river, and its scattered smokes lingered around the grove.

“Well then, let them come.” Said by those mystical eyes. His voice was deep and thick that sent shivers to my spine, and his chilling gaze pierced through my soul. I could even feel my fine hairs stiffened.

I had frequently heard its mysterious voice but this time it felt different, it made me feel uneasy. Or perhaps, my brother, Jasper’s tone gave me a weird vibe. He had been acting strange recently, and he was unusually quiet while we were on our way.

Instead of calling our people to step in the river, Jasper went in which was strange. He strictly told me that only from our people would be the sacrifice and now, what was he up to?

“Jasper, what are you doing?” I called him though my voice slightly stuttered and yet he didn't bother glancing at me. Maybe it was because my voice was so low that he couldn't hear me or was it due to the tension rising in the midst of the luminous atmosphere.

Before I could figure out what he was planning, he pulled out a silver dagger from his back. Wait… silver dagger? Don't tell me… he was up to something terrible. I needed to stop him immediately.

“Jasper!” I screamed, hoping to steal his attention but failed horribly.

Driven by greed, he had already stabbed the magical eyes with the silver dagger he had. And I froze in disbelief— eyes almost came off and my jaw hung open— our people behind me were panicking, terrified and confused while comprehending what they witnessed. What did he just insanely do?

Right before I could process what I just witnessed, the skies that were filled with beautiful auroras suddenly enveloped with pitch-black clouds, enormous lightning cut the sky into two and it struck straight to where Jasper was standing. The impact was so powerful that it blew him inches away, and so I was.

The dagger shattered into a million pieces, the golden smoke that was once formed as golden eyes, now spiraling back to the grove. Wind was wuthering, as if it was slapping our faces. I was in the dark but for sure, we were in hot boiling water.

“You traitors!” the voice growled in anger, making my knees tremble in fear, “Your descendants and nation will pay for what you owe!”

With a blink of an eye, the golden smoke vanished. The majestic forest that looked like a paradise was replaced by darkness, the trees and flowers that gave life now withered, covered with thick fog that could hardly see anything, and nothing but cold breeze that almost froze us to death.

“What have you done, Jasper!?” I yelled, my lips were trembling in horror and so was my body. I had a horrible feeling that something horrifying was about to happen.

Broadened eyes met my horrified gaze. Hands shivering yet I could see in his face that he was proud of what he did, “I gave us power, Ellie. Power that will make our nation prosper and powerful beyond anyone.”

I never would have imagined what I was seeing right now, nor what I was hearing. Jasper just turned into someone I never recognized.

For the first time in ages, I was terrified of him. A tear escaped from my eyes while my lips shivered, “You didn't give us power, Jasper! You placed a curse upon us!” I burst into tears. Every drop of my tear on the withered grass shared the agony of this mystical place.

“You are the curse, Ellie.” Terrifying expression gloomed on his face, his sinister look scared the nerve of me.

As if a grenade just exploded in my chest while tears flooded my cheeks, “Jasper, please… I am your sister,” I begged. I never begged like this in my whole life, yet my voice didn't get through him.

Chills turned me to stone. I couldn't feel any inch of my muscles as I witnessed my brother driven by lust for power that turned into someone I was terrified of.

“Don't do this… Jasper! No!

Chapter One

PRESENT DAY

- NICOLETTE OLIVEROS’S POV-

It felt uneasy after setting a foot back in a place where you had disappeared for a decade. Who would have thought that I would be coming back here after a bitter departure, believing that the view I had in my mind would be the last in my memories?

The scent of earth clinging to the foggy mist enveloping the streets brought back countless memories, once I wanted to cherish them and others I wanted to completely erase in my mind.

Almost got lost while heading to my father's old house considering how the city had evolved— concrete roads, traffic lights, newly built houses, unfamiliar faces and street lights that were only active during evening. Busy hours seemed to heavily occupy the streets with the bustling sound of cars and people walking on the sidewalks.

Everything had completely changed exce