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Jacin's POV:

The Mission

The taps of my shoes against the polished marble sounds almost deafening in the quiet hall. I keep my expression as cold and blank as the stone walls around me. I learned a long time ago that you can't let anyone know what you're thinking here, what you're feeling. No one can know what you're afraid of, what you care about, what you admire. It can all be used against you, and it will be.

I come up to a set of great double doors. The wood is strong and polished. If I didn't know where the wood had come from, I'd think them beautiful. But I do know, so I don't.

I knock on the doors, not banging, but not unnoticeable.

"Enter."

I let my disguise slip, just for a moment, as a disgusted frown flashes across my face. That voice. I hate it, almost as much as I hate who it belongs too.

I push open the doors and close them behind me, not daring to tear my eyes away from the woman on the other side of the room.

She is sitting on a throne carved from some sort of black material. Obsidian? Onyx? Regolith? I don't know, and to be honest I don't really care. The throne doesn't matter, all that matters is who's sitting in it. And, sadly, who's sitting in it is pretty much evil, though you wouldn't guess it by looking at her. She has ivory skin and blood-red lips. Her cold, sharp eyes are glittering onyx and her auburn curls spill elegantly over her shoulders. At least, that's what she wants people to think she looks like.

A stride forward until I'm about ten feet from the woman and stoop into a low bow. "Your majesty." I murmur respectfully. I'd rather call her Monster, but then I'd be dead before I could smirk at myself.

"Sir Jacin Clay." The woman greets me back. Her voice is cold and imperious. "I have a task for you."

"I live to serve my queen."

The queen nods with satisfaction. She makes a gesture with one perfectly smooth hand and someone steps out from behind her throne.

It takes all of my willpower not to smile.

The person behind her throne was Jerrico Solis, the captain of the royal guard and a pompous jerk. He's always boasting about his fighting prowess and how he's never lost a battle since he was appointed captain. Well, judging from the looks of him, he won't be able brag about that again.

His left arm is tied in a sling, and there's a large blooming bruise on his forehead. And if the stiff way he's holding himself right now is anything to go by, then those aren't his only injuries.

"Captain Solis was attempting to apprehend a rogue werewolf in the Earth dimension several days ago when he sustained his injuries." The queen explains. I'm tempted to ask who it was so I can personally thank them.

"He has spent his time since then attempting to identify the werewolf," she continues, "but has had no luck. The werewolf in question has an unfamiliar scent and human appearance."

"What of his wolf appearance?" I ask.

"Captain Solis didn't get the chance to see it."

Wait, Jerrico lost to a werewolf while it was in human form? If he was in the Earth dimension, he would've been in his wolf form. He should have been able to win! Our wolf forms are stronger than our human forms after all! And he still lost? Wow, his pride must be hurting bad.

I hide my satisfaction behind an expressionless mask as I ask the queen, "And how does this concern me your highness?"

"I want you to go to the Earth dimension and find this werewolf." The queen declares. "He seems strong and would likely be a good addition to my guard."

I glance at Jerrico and notice him clenching his jaw. Huh, I almost want to follow this order. Almost.

"Who else will be going on this mission my queen?"

"No one, you will be going alone." A satisfied smile plays across her lips. "The patrol unit sent a few nights ago caused quite a stir. It would be best for us to draw a little less attention to ourselves for the time being. For this same reason, you are not to revert to wolf form during your time on Earth."

I bow, a stiff, formal movement. "As you wish my queen. How long do I have to prepare?"

"Fifteen minutes. I want you to be ready to go to Earth in, at most, thirty. You may go."

I bow again and march out of the throne room. It takes conscious effort not to slam the door behind me.

Of course, of course she'd give me this mission! Not any of the other, more experienced guards, not any of the stronger ones, me. Not to mention the fact that I'll probably have to abduct this werewolf that beat the snot out of Jerrico. The queen is right about one thing, this werewolf seems to be very strong. I'm no slouch when it comes to fighting, but I don't think I can beat that! But that's not the real reason this mission angers me so much. The real reason is that, while I'm away on Earth, I won't be able to carry out the purpose that prompted me to become a guard in the first place.

That same purpose is the reason that, instead of going to the research labs to pick up Earth clothing and be outfitted with bioelectrical protection devices, I'm heading upstairs to visit my best (and only) friend since pretty much forever.

I knock quietly on her door. No sooner have my knuckles left the polished wood that it flies open and her face beams up at me.

I do a pretty good job in keeping my face neutral and expressionless, but it's hardest to do it around Winter. She is the nicest person on Luna, and probably nicer than anyone on Earth too. She gives food to the mice that sleep in the cracks of the castle's stone walls, gives candy infused with painkillers to the servants after they have been beaten and sews blankets for the working class of Artemisia using her own two hands. She'd probably do the same for the werewolves living on the outer reaches of Luna if it was possible. Winter is sweet and kind and fun and innocent. And very, very vulnerable.

For one thing, Winter is beautiful. No, beautiful is an understatement. So's gorgeous, and lovely, and pretty. No single word can truly describe Winter's beauty. Her dark, shimmering corkscrew curls spill over her shoulders and perfectly frame her face and long neck. Her smiling lips are as red as rubies and her long lashes flutter over golden brown eyes flecked with slate grey and emerald green. She has a curvy figure and graceful limbs. The only flaw in her otherwise perfect appearance are three scars running down her right cheek like tear tracks, their paleness seemingly glowing against her dark skin. But rather than detract from her beauty, the scars only seem to enhance it somehow. Only problem with being the most beautiful girl in existence, it also puts you in a lot of danger. From lustful men looking for a thrill to jealous women with poisonous hearts (cough, Queen Levana, cough).

And it's not just paranoia talking here either. Levana was the one who gave Winter her scars in a fit of jealous rage, four years ago when she was thirteen. The worst part is, she forced Winter to hold the knife. I'll never forget seeing her walk out of the audience chamber with blood dripping down her face and onto her dress.

But her beauty is not the only thing putting her in danger. There is also her mind to be worried about. Levana seemed to take some kind of sick pleasure in fiddling around with Winter's mind when she was young, making her see things that weren't there, terrifying things. After Winter's father died, Levana didn't even need to plant the hallucinations in her mind, it conjured them up on its own, driving Winter insane. Too many times she's almost killed herself because of the hallucinations, too many times she's almost died because of Levana's meddling. The worst part is, Levana promised Winter's father she'd take care of her, that she'd love her, as if she was Winter's real mother and not just her stepmother. I'm surprised he couldn't tell that she was lying through her teeth.

I've spent my whole life protecting Winter, it's the main reason I became a guard, but how can I protect her when I'm on Earth?

Winter throws her arms around my torso, hugging me tightly. "Jacin! You came to visit! You don't do it as often anymore."

"I visit you every day Princess." I reply dryly even as I return the hug.

Winter pulls away first, her beautiful caramel eyes shining with pent up excitement. "Come on! I'm making dolls for that maid who gave birth last week. What was her name again?"

I shrug. I don't care about the servants as much as Winter does.

"I'll have to ask her then. Anyway I was thinking you could paint their faces while I finish up with their clothes."

I feel the corner of my mouth twitch. Winter was always trying to get me involved in her little charity projects. I'm almost regretful as I shake my head. "I can't stay long Winter. Levana's sent me to Earth on a mission."

Winter's bright smile crumbles. "Oh. How long will you be gone?"

"However long it takes to finish the mission."

Winter's smile returns, though it is shaky and sad. "Well, can you try to finish it quickly? A princess needs her guard."

"Of course I will Trouble." I reply.

Winter's smile becomes a bit more natural at the use of the nickname.

"You'd better go." She says with a small shove to my shoulder. "You don't want to keep Levana waiting."

"Be safe Winter." I tell her as I turn to leave.

"Of course my guard."

A/N: Our first chapter in Luna! Jacin's sarcasm is surprisingly fun to write!

Levana wants Jacin to bring her the werewolf who beat up Jerrico (gee, I wonder who that could be?). Will he succeed, or will he get beat up himself?

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