Chapter Text
One Summer afternoon, Bellaluna was at look-a-books just hanging out and reading.
“I was thinking that since I’m here, I’m gonna look at some of the books that are for seahorse families.”
Soon she went to the children’s and family section, and looked around the section for the books for LGBTQ families and seahorse children; but couldn’t find anything.
“That’s strange, you think there would be something, at least in the far back.”
Bellaluna then noticed something that looked like a giant closet, it was made of wood and it had a lavender and hot pink design to it; with a little rainbow flag in the lower left corner.
She then opened the door, and there was some stairs heading down to what looked like a hallway
“Wonder what could be here? Well there’s only one way to find out.”
Soon she walked downstairs, and then walked down the pathway.
It was a dark pathway that was lit by red fluorescent lighting that were flickering, and it looked like any other section of the bookstore.
“How far does this pathway go?”
Bellaluna then noticed that there were some bookshelves in the distance, then walked to the bookshelves to see what the books are.
She soon noticed that all of the books were about LGBT issues and also stories .
“I think I found the books I was looking for, but why would they be in here? Oh that’s right, so people won’t get shocked or throw hissy fits; how could I forget?”
Then there was something that caught Bellaluna’s eye, in the section of seahorse children.
It was a simple hardcover book that was was lavender coloured, a aquamarine coloured seahorse, With the title “The Aquamarine Mark” written in golden letters.
She picked up the book, and just looked at it, wide eyed, and not saying a word.
“I can’t believe it, this was the first book I ever wrote, back when I was a kid."
She then noticed that the hallway didn't end there, and it seemed to keep going.
"Well only one way to find out where this pathway ends."
Bellaluna then placed the book back on the shelf and walked towards the pathway.
As she went further, she noticed that it was getting darker and darker; but she still kept going.
Then after a while, it was complete darkness, and Bellaluna couldn't see her hands in front of her face.
As she was walking, she started hearing voices from the darkness.
" You know that you're just a child of sin, so why don't you just give up?"
"No one can love someone like you, you're too much of a freak."
"You should've gave up living when you had the chance."
Bellaluna then heard the flapping of wings behind her, so she turned around to see what it was.
She then saw a giant black eagle with glowing red eyes, right in front of her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Clearing out the rats."
Bellaluna then backed away slowly, then turned around and ran for her life; with the eagle soon flying after her.
As she was running, she can feel the eagle getting closer; she even felt the scratch of the talons.
She ran faster and faster until she slammed right into a door, she then ran through the door and locked it.
She soon continued walking, trying to put behind what happened.
But then the voices from earlier return, this time it was almost like screams.
"GOOD FOR NOTHING FREAK, THE WORLD WILL BE BETTER WITHOUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU!"
"YOU SEAHORSE CHILDREN ARE ALL THE SAME, NOTHING BUT PESTS!"
"FREAK!"
"PEST!"
"ABOMINATION OF MAN AND GOD!"
Bellaluna then lied down in the fetal position, covering her ears.
"Please stop, I did nothing wrong; I DID NOTHING WRONG!"
She soon started crying and hoping that the voices would go away, she remembers the way most people would tease and bully her, whether it was because she was a seahorse child or she was a mutant.
Soon the voices stopped, and she soon sat up, and noticed that there was a small light at the end of the hallway.
She then walked towards it, only to find a door; she opened it to find some stairs.
"Well this is it, no where else to go but forward."
Bellaluna the climbed the stairs and opened the final door, she flinched a bit at the sudden bright light.
With her eyes still adjusting to the sudden change of light, she stumbled through the door.
When her eyes finally adjusted, she noticed that she was standing in the middle of a bar.
Everyone in the bar was staring at here, and Bellaluna just stood there; doe eyed and in a stunned silence.
"Uh hello, don't mind me; just go back to what you were doing before."
Soon everything went back to normal and Bellaluna decided to just get a simple drink.
"One glass of champange please."
"So how did you get here?"
"I walked through a empty and dark hall way that was connected to the look-a-books."
"Ah yes, the old hiding tunnels; back when the Stag and the Rose first opened, those tunnels were built in case of police raids."
"Understandable, I guess look-a-books is now using it to hold the LGBT related books. It's a shame that so many important words have to be hidden from plain sight."
"It is, I haven't caught your name Ms?"
"Bellaluna xavier Lehnsherr."
Soon the bar got so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.
Soon an middle aged gentlemen walked up to Bellaluna
"Wait, you're THE Bellaluna Lehnsherr? It's such an honor to meet you. Would you like to sit at the booth seat with me?"
" Yes, and thank you."
They soon walked to a booth seat, and just chatted.
"I actually met my life partner at the musical production of Amour et passions a few years ago, we actually both acted in it playing the two main lovers, I played the inspector and my life partner played the convict."
"That's amazing, It's actually really touching; seeing how much my work has impacted so many. It doesn't seem like it now, but when I started writing; I was filled with the feeling that it all wouldn't have amounted to much."
"Well you'd be surprised that even the littlest thing can make a big difference in ways you can't imagine."
"Thanks, I'd like to stay and chat; but I must be on my way, finish up some writing."
"I understand, I bid thee good day; Ms Lehnsherr."
"The same to you, sir."
Bellaluna then finished her short stories anthology book, and after she was finished of her book; she just lied down on her bed unable to sleep, because she couldn't help but think about the experience at the hidden hallway; so she spent the whole night editing her book.
The next morning, Bellaluna took the bus to the Snow Wolf's publishing office; since she was too tired to drive.
After she got off the bus, she arrived at Snow Wolf.
Meanwhile Bellaluna's publishing agent Ciara Snow was having a meeting with some Hollywood executives.
"Look Ms Snow, according to these charts; adapting Shades of Midnight is the smartest move. We know that this may seem like an inconvience to you to be here, but since your head of Snow Wolf; we wanted your approval face to face."
"I honestly don't care about what the charts say, I care about what the public says; and according to the public from what I've heard, that book has the most negative reviews. It was actually listening to the charts and figures that caused it to be published."
"But according to the charts-"
"Like I said before, the charts don't matter, I don't want to pay the iron price with the public; I want to win the publishing game of honorable as possible."
"Look, we'll maybe meet up in a few months; and we'll maybe found a middle ground."
"That'll probably be impossible, there's an old saying where I come from. When you play the game of thrones you either win or you die, there is no middle ground."
"Well then, until we meet again Ms Snow."
Soon the hollywood executives left, and Ciara just sat there in her office in silence.
Soon there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
"Ms Snow, Ms Lehnsherr is here to see you."
"Send her in."
Soon Bellaluna walked into Ciara's office, and was trying to keep her balance and to keep awake.
"I'm here with my short story anthology, Ms Snow."
"Thanks Bellaluna, are you okay? You look tired."
"I'm okay, I was just up all night; doing some editing."
"Well I'll just send it to editor, just to be safe. Are you sure there isn't another reason you were up all night?"
"I couldn't sleep, there was too much on my mind; old memories opened up; memories I wanted to forget."
"Why, what happened?"
"Yesterday I was look-a-books, and I was looking for any books on seahorse children; and it turned out they were in this hidden section of the store. Anyway I went into the section, and there was this dark and long hallway, and as I was walking down the hall; I began hearing voices of all of the horrible things that people have said to me when I was a little girl. Then this shadow eagle appeared and tried to kill me, but luckily I was able to get away. But now I'm wondering if those voices were right?"
"I understand how you're feeling, my little brother and I went through the same fate in my homeland; we've had people treat me like I was nothing. Especially since we weren't only seahorse children but we were also bastards. But when I was a little girl, this advice was said to me. Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you."
"Thanks Ciara, you were were the few there for me when I was alone."
"No problem, go home and get some rest."
"Okay, bye Ciara."
"Farewell, and may the old gods and the new bless thee."
"Thanks."
After Bellaluna walked back to the academy, she lied down in her room; thinking about what Ciara said.
"Maybe she's right, maybe I should just accept who I am; and sheild myself with it. That way, no one can use it against me anymore."
Later that night, Bellaluna meditated on the academy roof under the starry skies, finally at peace with herself."