A gentle breeze whispered through the stillness, carrying the secrets of the night with it. The moon cast a soft glow upon the slumbering world, while stars adorned the sky like diamonds strewn across black silk. The air held a subtle chill, and a hush blanketed the surroundings, as if nature itself was tiptoeing through the quietude of the sleeping hours.
It was in this moment of still darkness that the Aideen rested. She was curled up under the covers, sleeping soundly like a baby as a gentle breeze crept in from the slightly open glass window and swept over her face. She mumbled and pulled the covers up to her head.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed. Aideen wasn't a deep sleeper so little things could jolt her back to the real world. She pushed the covers down her face and lazily searched for the phone on the nightstand. When she found it, she sighed and rubbed her eyes to see who had texted her. It was her grandmother and she had asked her in the text message not to look at the moon.
Her eyes widened and her chest rose and fell rapidly. She was frantic with worry as she noticed the sudden illumination in her room. She pulled the covers back up her head, trying so hard to lay still. Tons of messages from unknown numbers arrived after her grandmother's, urging her to look outside. "The moon is more than gorgeous tonight" she read out. "Look Aideen, there's Morse code on the moon." "Oh now, they have to use the Morse code against me" she sighed regrettably.
"I am Aideen. My name may mean little fire but I will burn down big things" she muttered and got out of bed. She slid into her slippers and walked to the door, ignoring the window which she could easily look from. "I'm not going to only look, but I'll step outside" the moment those words escaped her lips, a gust of wind rattled the door's knob, causing her to retrace her steps. When the wind disappeared, she held the knob and tried to turn it but it was stiff.
"Seems the wind has learnt to lock my own door" she said furiously and her eyes changed from blue to eyes emptied of human emotions as they turned crimson which could be dazzling if anyone dared play a stare game at that moment.
She held the knob firmly and pulled. The door immediately swung open. Aideen was flaming in the eyes. She stood at the threshold and took a deep breath before looking up at the moon. There she saw her reflection, with flaming eyes and sharp diamond-like fangs.
Her reflection on the moon was stunning. She had these perfect silvery heels that complimented her full skirt and fitted bodice gown. Aideen was dumbstruck and slowly took her finger to her mouth. "What?" A fang had grown and just as she touched it, she howled and the others responded from a distance as they came out of their hideout.
"All hail queen Aideen" they chorused and bowed as her countenance transformed to exactly what was painted on the moon. "What's going on?" She questioned and one of them sprang to his feet and handed her a book. "This book contains all you need to know, your majesty" his voice was deep, as if he had just woken up from sleep. She fancied it.
"What is your name?" Her eyes had returned back to its normal state of lobelia blue. "Acher, your highness!" He took a bow after every statement. "Your Highness?" She returned. He nodded. She howled and they howled in return.
She turned her back to them as she searched for a place to sit down then another came running from the pack with a golden seat in his hand, he set it on the ground, took a bow and scurried back to his position. A smile curved on Aideen's lips. She was loving her newly found family.
To be continued ✨