-- Lilith POV, Skyview Monastery --

  Night had fallen and she was already in her cell, getting ready to sleep. The dishes from the evening meal had been washed, preparations for breakfast next morning had been done as much as they could the evening before.

  Everyone had retired to their rooms.

  She had left the shutter of her window open. It was a simple thing, just a wooden hatch to close the hole in the wall that was called a window in this place.

  She had laid down on the mattress and pulled the blanket over her, idly looking at the few stars she could see through the window, while she tried to calm her thoughts. A new place to live in. New jobs to do. The promise of sanctuary for the price of freedom.

  Much had changed in the past few days, much of it to the better, she considered. At least she had a room now to call her own, a proper mattress to sleep on, and peaceful, sometimes even friendly people around her. It wasn't much, but it was the best she had had yet, since she had been called into this world.

  A cool breeze came in from her window. She could feel the fresh air caress her face. It made her smile for a moment. She didn't mind that the air was cold. Nights got very cold in this place. It was the gentle touch that felt well.

  She sighed happily and closed her eyes. Next morning she was expected to get up at five bells, help with breakfast preparations, so everyone could have a proper breakfast once they gathered at six bells in the dining hall. She didn't like to get up this early, but well, she wanted to blend in. So, better try to get some sleep now and be well rested next morning.

  Memories passed through her mind. Prison guards, some gruff, some of them friendly. Games played. How she discovered that dice listened to her wishes and obeyed. How she learned to see the other side of cards in a game. The one that people tried to hide from her looks. Should she be happy about these skills, or sad? She could win games easily now, but few people played with her anymore. It was a mixed blessing.

  She turned around on the mattress and wrapped the blanket more tightly around her. Her horns and the pillow didn't go along well in terms of comfort, but there was little to do about it. Better than having straw from an already uncomfortable heap entangled in her horns. So much was certain. She had a mattress a cushion and a blanket now.

  She yawned, and once more tried to clear her mind.

  There was something though. Something ...

  She opened her eyes again. On the wall was bright rectangle, projected from the window.

  The moon. It had to be full moon.

  The garden came to her mind. She was free to go to the garden. Superior Martins had not made any restrictions for which times she was allowed to go there. She chuckled quietly to herself. Certainly he would not expect her to visit the garden at night. Neither would he get to know.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Anyways. Too many thoughts in her head. Maybe it would help to visit the garden, sit and watch the sky for a while, and return to her cell with a calmer mind.

  So she got up, put on her robe and opened the door quietly. For a moment she listened.

  The monastery had become very quiet, seemingly everyone but her was asleep now. The hallway was dark, but she knew the path. She would find the garden in the dark.

  Carefully, not make too much noise and wake anybody she made her way to the garden.

  There!

  The monastery walls hid the horizon from her view, but she could see the sky above, and the moon just crawled over the top of the walls. Gentle moonlight began to fill the courtyard as the moon rose higher above the wall. Long minutes she just stood there, watching the moon. It was majestic. Full moon or very close at least. Bright and beautiful.

  Eventually she walked over to one of the benches in the garden to sit down and watch from a move comfortable position.

  She couldn't tell how long she had been sitting there, watching the moon. It was now quite a bit above the walls when someone suddenly spoke to her, "Hey. Also got problems to sleep at full moon?"

  She turned, but it was hard to tell who it was in the low light. One of the monks had taken seat besides her, and was also watching the sky now.

  "Too many thoughts in my head", she tried to explain. "And the moon is beautiful."

  "It is." The monk agreed. "I'm brother John."

  "Lilith", she replied. "Nice to meet you brother John."

  They sat in silence for a while, before he spoke up again, "Each time it's full moon I can't fall asleep. So I come here to sit and watch."

  She didn't know what to answer, and so they sat for another while in silence, just watching how the moon slowly climbed the sky.

  A light breeze arose and brother John pulled the hood of his robe over his head.

  "How does the moon make you feel?" He suddenly asked.

  "Happy." She wanted to say more, but each extra word just seemed to ruin the moment. So she just repeated, "It makes me happy."

  He seemed to think about that for a while. "Calm. It makes me feel calm."

  "Yes." It didn't need more words.

  A small and quick shadow passed over them, barely visible against the background of the starry sky. "Oh, a bat."

  His hood rustled, either he nodded or moved his head to see the bat, "I think they hide under the roof tiles during the day. At night they come out."

  She had to laugh, "Like us two today. But we don't need to hide under the roof tiles from the daylight."

  "Indeed." They shared a laugh. Then they sat another while in silence.

  "I think I'll head back and try to sleep." Brother John spoke up eventually, "How about you?"

  She nodded, even if he could probably not see, "Me too. I'll need the sleep as well."

  They got up, he took the lead and she followed him inside, until their paths parted, "It was a nice time. Sleep well brother John", she let him know. His hood rustled again, probably he nodded to her, "Sleep well too Lilith. See you in the morning."

  There was another rustling noise, she assumed he waved, and she waved back to him before she opened the door to her cell.

  The bright rectangle on her wall was gone. The moon had moved past her window. Quickly, she undressed to lay down on the mattress and wrap herself into the blanket. Sleep would be nice now. Nice and refreshing. She yawned, wiggled into a comfortable position and this time fell asleep quickly.