Her fingers twitched at her sides, a nervous tremor she forced still. If she screamed now, tutors and students would rush from their studies to find nothing but an empty hallway. They wouldn’t believe a unicorn was here . . . She’d lose any credibility she still had, and likely her reputation too—the one Angie had worked so hard to build for her.
Without needing action from her, the shadows began to retreat, slipping back into their corners, as if he’d never been here at all.
And maybe he hadn’t.
Maybe she was losing her mind.
She shook her hands, forcing the tension from her fingers, and took a breath before stepping up to the wooden door of her tutor’s study.
Emily was already sitting on a berry-coloured cushion, attentively listening to their tutor, Demetrio. Luna hadn’t seen Emily pass her on the walk, but then again, she’d been busy trying not to step on the servants or be killed by a unicorn.
Demetrio was a tall, slender man with a strong chin. His peppered grey hair fell to his shoulders, which he habitually brushed out of his face as he spoke. He broke off mid-sentence when he saw Luna and frowned.
Silence stretched as he watched her cross the room, waiting for her to settle into her seat before he continued. “As I was telling Emily, with all the excitement of today’s news, it’s only appropriate that our lesson be about unicorns.
“As you both know, those abominations have been a menace throughout human history. The beasts wander into our lands, pretending to be innocent and kind, and then kidnap our men, women, and children alike. We have yet to locate the entrance to Eloria, so we can only guess the fate of these victims.”
The lands were divided into two: Eloria was the name given to the unicorn realm, while the human lands were called Ghelvina.
Luna sighed, leaning her head on her hand. Eloria sounded like the scariest place ever, but with how Demetrio droned on and on, she almost wished she was there—at least she wouldn’t be bored.
“Some scholars believe the unicorns face challenges with their fertility and require human . . .”—he paused, searching for an appropriate term to use in front of ladies—“assistance.” He cleared his throat, brushing his fingers through his hair before continuing, “Other theories have been suggested. Some scholars think humans are used as sacrifices for other monsters, used as slaves, or simply killed. Over the years, very few who have been taken have returned, and when they do, their minds are shattered. They have little recollection of who they are. Let alone what happened to them.
“We’re lucky to live in a kingdom safe from not only them, but all of our enemies, known and unknown. Before the protection arrangement with Nina, the whole Kingdom of Grythorn lived in fear. Everyone kept their doors locked and prayed that their home would not be targeted by theunicorns or other monsters that roamed the night.”
When Luna had previously asked what the arrangement had been between Nina and the king, Demetrio had refused to answer her. He told her she shouldn’t be so nosy, and that was the end of the conversation.
Luna fiddled with her necklace. “So why did the last protection ceremony fail? How was the intruder able to get in?”
Emily twirled a curl around her finger. “I think there’s a possibility that some unicorns aren’t that bad.” As she spoke, her gaze floated over to Luna, her eyebrows raised.
Luna glared at her. It was borderline treason to suggest that unicorns were anything other than a bunch of monsters. So much for Emily being Angie’s perfect daughter. Didn’t she realize how much trouble she could get in for even suggesting such things?
Besides, as far as Luna was concerned, all unicorns were evil.
“I’m just saying,” Emily said, glancing at her nails as if to inspect them. “He only knocked the guard out, he didn’t kill him.”
Demetrio leaned against his desk, waving his hand in the air, dismissing Emily’s comment. “Do not let Nina’s kindness mistake you. Thousands of our people have met their deaths because of those beasts.” He made a point of holding Luna’s gaze as he said, “They’re all evil.”
Luna sank into her seat, shrinking into herself as her thoughts spiralled.How unfair he was.If she had dared to suggest such things, she’d be forced to write a ten-page essay as punishment.
He then turned around, grabbed two books off the shelf beside his desk, and passed one to Emily, and the other to Luna. “Nina is getting older, which means her magic isn’t protecting us as long as it used to. We believe it needs to be done more often now to provide the same level of protection.” Nina was the only unicorn Luna knew of who had ever helped protect a human kingdom. Everywhere else struggled against attacks from their kind. Demetrio pointed to the books they were holding. “As dangerous as the unicorn creatures are, their magic makes them valuable.” He spoke with his hands, moving them through the air like his lecture was an orchestra. “It’s common knowledge that a unicorn horn can be ground up and consumed for its healing properties, but we also extract the magic from other parts of their bodies and use it in many different potions. For today’s homework, I want you to read chapters eighteen to twenty which further explains this subject.”
Then Demetrio excused himself, explaining he’d be right back, leaving Emily and Luna alone.
With a devious smirk on her lips, Emily turned to Luna. “I have a hypothetical question for you.”
Luna raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”
“If you were a unicorn, what kind of powers do you think you’d have?”
Luna’s soul left her body. “It’s blasphemy to even think such a thought. Are you trying to get us in trouble?”
“Always,” she teased, her voice light and airy despite the heavy topic. “But answer me this. If you could decide to be a unicorn, would you?”
“No,” Luna said with a small laugh. “I want a normal life, not a magical one. I’d sooner run off a bridge and fall to a horrible death than be a unicorn.”
Emily chewed on her bottom lip, seemingly deep in thought. “I suppose that’s fair . . .”
