Claiming His Luna

Cercei’s POV

My heart raced with trepidation as one of the men diligently inspected every individual embarking and disembarking the ship. Instinctively, I contemplated turning away, but another group of men stood behind me, closing off any retreat.

Feeling a pang of desperation, tears threatened to well up as I realised there was no way out. I found myself wholly dependent on a mere scarf and sunglasses to maintain a semblance of composure, striving not to draw unnecessary attention to myself.

As I approached the scrutinising man, my heart pounded louder and more vigorously. His gaze bore into me, causing cold sweat to form on my forehead.

A sigh of relief involuntarily escaped my lips when, finally, he averted his eyes. I mustered a faint smile, relieved that I had managed to get on board. Now, I needed to find my Mamà and Aunt. Were they already here? The ship was poised to set sail.

The sound of the horn signalled the imminent departure. Glancing around anxiously, I searched for their familiar faces.

Engrossed in my search, I suddenly collided with someone, causing my sunglasses to tumble and get crushed underfoot. Adding to my misfortune, a gust of wind whisked away my scarf. Cursing under my breath, I attempted to conceal my face, but one of the men had already spotted me. He gestured and murmured to his fellows.

Shit! I quickly changed direction, attempting to blend in among the numerous passengers. The sheer volume of people on board provided some cover, but it made finding my aunt and mother nearly impossible.

Dodging away from the direction where I saw more of Monsieur’s men, I found myself on the second deck, only to realise that I had inadvertently trapped myself.

Where was my mother? My frantic eyes scanned the surroundings, but no one seemed aware of the dire situation unfolding. I have always flattered myself with my vigilance and astute decision-making. Still, now, in this critical moment, I felt utterly lost and unsure of how to escape this difficult predicament.

My gaze was fixated on the churning waters below. The ship surged forward, tempting me to jump, but the distance from the port made me nervous. What if exhaustion overcame me, and I drowned in the vast expanse? The dark green water stirred fears of its depth, but surrendering to my captors was not my option. I’d rather face the uncertainty of the open ocean than return to that wretched mansion.

My determination almost drove me to leap off the railings, but just as I prepared to escape, a force pulled me back.

“Cercei, what on earth are you doing?” Aunt Melanie’s wide-eyed exclamation greeted me, and I clung to her in relief. She was here!

“Where’s Mamà?” I asked, my gaze darting behind her.

“Were you seriously thinking of jumping?” She disregarded my question, and I swallowed the confession. Yes, I was, but I couldn’t find the words to admit it.

“Monsieur’s men had us cornered,” I cried, and Aunt Melanie instantly embraced me, offering comfort and reassurance.

“Hush now. We don’t have much time,” she urged, grasping my hand firmly. Together, we sought out my mother on the lower deck. When we finally reached her, she embraced me tightly, trembling with fear.

“Oh, Cercei, thank goodness you’re safe,” she murmured, planting a tender kiss on my forehead, her emotions visibly overwhelming her.

“Yeah, she was about to take a plunge,” Aunt Melanie interjected playfully, and I shot her a reproachful look. Snitch! Mamà eyes widened in shock upon hearing the revelation.

“What?” Her voice rose, demanding an explanation. I sheepishly smiled, trying to divert the focus.

“We have to go,” I redirected the conversation abruptly.

Aunt Melanie’s friend, the owner of this very ship, had come to our assistance. He allowed us to borrow his speed boat for a swift escape from the lower deck. It was a much more reasonable plan than attempting a dangerous swim to another island.

We steered the speed boat with ruse, thanks to Aunt Melanie’s skillful handling. Monsieur’s men watched from the ship’s railing, and their apparent leader made a call. As we distanced ourselves from their clutches, I hugged my mother tightly.

“Tell your damn boss to suck his dick!” Aunt Melanie shouted defiantly, extending her middle finger toward Monsieur’s men.

“Melanie!” My mother scolded her, but I couldn’t help but crack a smile. Her fiery spirit and audacity were exactly what we needed in this daring escape.

Fate had favoured us, but the threat had been far too close for comfort. The ship had almost become my desperate escape, and only my vigilant Aunt Melanie saved me in the nick of time. I was weary of this constant nomadic existence, always on the run, leaving behind bits of my identity like breadcrumbs. Only Nicholas knew my true name, and he deserved far more than that mere fraction of knowledge.

Aunt Melanie skillfully steered the speed boat to another city’s port, but we couldn’t linger. No doubt, Monsieur’s men were already scattered across the entire country, relentless in their pursuit. Evading them would be near impossible, given their seemingly boundless numbers. If we were to stand a chance at escaping, we’d have to blend in with the thronging crowds.

To hide in plain sight, we chose a bustling and crowded location. They would anticipate us seeking seclusion or refuge amidst distant mountains. Our destination was a local convenience store where Aunt Melanie promptly gathered various hair colouring products.

Even with Mamà’s sarcastic remarks, Aunt Melanie insisted on hair transformations for all of us. “They’ll notice your hair first thing,” she advised, her gaze fixed on me. And she was right.

Leaving the store with supplies and sustenance, we found a discreet hotel to alter our appearances. Mamà shortened her hair while Aunt Melanie donned a wig. As for me, I dyed my hair and donned contacts. My honey-brown hair and emerald eyes had become my unmistakable signature, so changing them was essential for any hope of invisibility.

The transition was complete, and we proceeded to the airport, each of us looking like an entirely different person. We stayed close, yet strategically apart, just as we had before. This safety measure allowed us to blend into the crowd without drawing attention.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

As expected, the airport brimmed with Monsieur’s vigilant men, making it a daunting task to move even with my new disguise. Five of them boarded the plane and meticulously inspected every passenger. I attempted to remain composed while Aunt Melanie nonchalantly waved at one of them, displaying a bravado that belied her true feelings.

Sitting one seat away from each other on the plane, we anxiously awaited takeoff. Through the window, I pondered our destination, which Aunt Melanie had suggested would be in Asia. She believed that hiding in large cities on the continent would offer us better shelter. I could only hope her instincts proved true as we embarked on yet another chapter of this dangerous journey.