Moonlight and Magick

by Isobael Liu

  He smiled at her and nodded.

  “The room further down the hall is green and white, the room beyond is Tiberius’s suite. There’s a guest room after his suite, then the library, which connects to the meeting hall. Everyone else has a suite which lines the outside of the villa.”

  Lilian didn’t know what to say. It hit her that Matthias was important and wealthy. She trembled, overwhelmed.

  “Who are you, Matthias? What is all of this?” She turned to look at him. He stepped toward her, but she took a step back, keeping distance between them. Matthias frowned, but did not pursue her.

  “Perhaps we could sit? I’ll explain.” He gestured to the sitting area.

  Lilian nodded. She made her way over to one of the chairs and sat. She trembled and exhaustion had set in, but she needed to hear what he had to say.

  Matthias waited until she sat before he walked over and took a seat. “I guess it’s my turn to talk.”

  “Talk…just talk?”

  He looked at her with a rather devious, yet charming smile. “Unless you had another suggestion?”

  “Get your mind out of the gutter.”

  He grinned. “It wasn’t in the gutter. It was in the bed.”

  Lilian couldn’t help but laugh. He was being rather cute and oh-so-charming.

  “Well, get it out of there too. We’re just talking.”

  Matthias nodded and leaned back in the chair, looking comfortable and relaxed. His golden eyes steady on her, to the point she had to look away from him.

  He was silent for so long, she glanced back, finding him staring at her, his golden eyes blazing.

  “What do you know about the Lupine?” he asked her, his tone calm.

  She shook her head. “Not much.”

  “I’m going to tell you a story. I want you to listen.”

  Lilian gave a careful nod.

  “Do you know the history of how Rome was built?”

  She nodded again. She had learned this myth while in training with Custodes Secreti.

  “The twins who were suckled by a wolf. Romulus built Rome, becoming the first king after he killed his brother.”

  Matthias smiled. “That part is nothing but a story to conceal the truth. The truth is Lupa suckled the abandoned Romulus and Remus. It is said her milk gave the boys the ability to shift into wolves and they grew up among the wolf pack. They were found by a shepherd and taken in, raised as humans. They retained the ability to shift.”

  He leaned back in his chair.

  “Romulus and Remus were competitive, always trying to outdo each other. Remus, more hot-tempered than his brother, was jealous of Romulus, who was more thoughtful, even tempered.

  “Eventually, they married, sired children, and built Rome. Legend has it Romulus slew Remus as Rome was being built, but Remus merely took his family and left after a bitter quarrel between the brothers. This split the Lupa, or Lupine, line into two factions. The Romulus clan and the Remus clan.”

  Matthias smiled proudly.

  “Romulus went on to build Rome and sired more of his kind among the Sabines. This line has always been known as natural leaders, judges, politicians, generals, as well as warriors.

  “Remus took his family and people away and settled in Germania, co-mingling with the early Norse tribes. Personally, I think it explains why the Vikings were so hot-tempered and yet excellent warriors.”

  Lilian stared at Matthias. She wasn’t altogether sure whether to believe him and his story. Werewolves in ancient Rome, werewolves having started ancient Rome, was a bit hard to accept. Of course, when one considered what she could do, she supposed it wasn’t so farfetched.

  He smiled at her. She was rather thankful for the silence. How was she supposed to process what he told her? How was she supposed to react to what she just learned? Her thoughts were going in circles and she couldn’t still any of them in order to think.

  Lilian lifted a hand to brush back a lock of errant hair from her face and saw how her hand shook.

  Nope, not going to happen, no thinking tonight.

  Lilian stood. “Well, good night.”

  Matthias looked surprised, but stood up as well. “Lilian?”

  She lifted a hand up to ward off any more words. “It’s late. Actually, it’s very early and I’m exhausted. You should get your wound looked at before too long, just in case. I need sleep and I need to be alone.”

  Lilian kept eye contact with him and he must have seen she was telling the truth. Matthias nodded.

  “If you need anything, I’m next door. Don’t hesitate to knock,” he said.

  She gave him a faint smirk. “Don’t hold your breath.”

  “I didn’t mean that.” He grinned. “But since you mentioned it, that too.”

  “Out!”

  Matthias laughed before leaving.

  * * * *

  Lilian was running in the forest again. Her heart raced, while her breathing came in ragged gasps. T he baying of the hounds could be heard in the distance, but they were getting closer. She had to keep moving before they caught her.

  She jumped over a fallen log and a distant part of her marveled at how agile and graceful her movements were . It felt as though she ’d been running for hours and yet her legs were strong and her body, exhausted, continued on.

  Without warning, the ground gave way beneath her and with a cry, she fell into a large hole. It was deep enough and large enough there was no climbing out . She remained where she fell, trying to catch her breath as a desperate look around yielded nothing.

  “Finally,” a male voice said, deep and gravelly in tone.

  Lilian gasped in surprise and looked in the direction of the voice. She couldn’t see what he looked like hidden in the shadow, but could tell he was tall.

  “You’ve given us a merry hunt, little one, but the hunt is over.”

  “Who are you?” She stood up and faced him.

  “The huntsman,” he replied, giving her a mocking bow. “And you are the prey.”

  “I’m no one’s prey. You’re just a nightmare.”

  He laughed and the sound grated on her nerves, like rocks being rubbed together. “Oh, child. How innocent you are.”

  Lilian allowed the anger to wash over her and lashed out, using telekinesis to throw him back. However, she was surprised when he didn’t move other than to wave a hand. A net was thrown over her and the weight of it dragged her down to the floor.

  The burning began. It was a dull ache at first, and grew until it was as though flames were consuming her. She screamed and struggled, but as the moments ticked by, her strength waned, both from the pain and what caused it. Her voice grew hoarse from screaming.

  “Yes,” the shadowed man hissed. “You are definitely the one.”

  Her vision darkened, but not before she saw the white stag as it ran toward the huntsman. The huntsman yelled something in a strange language, and while it might have been almost lyrical to her, with his voice, it sounded evil and malevolent.

  Lilian lay there, unable to move, her eyes closed, and she could feel her body shaking. From a great distance, she heard her name being called. The net was pulled from her, and she opened her eyes to gaze up at the white stag.

  “Wake up, daughter!”

  Lilian jolted awake and the movement caused a whimper. The bright light in her room assaulted her eyes.

  Movement in her peripheral vision made her jump and turn to confront the threat. Even seeing Matthias wasn’t enough to calm her.

  “Shh.” His tone was soft and soothing. “You were screaming in your sleep. I couldn’t wake you.”

  She nodded as his voice washed over her. Still, she trembled from the aftermath of her nightmare.

  He reached out and picked up one of her hands. He frowned and touched her cheek. “You’re freezing.”

  Lilian turned her face into his palm. The warmth of his hand was a blessing and she wanted more, needed more. “Please, Matthias. I need…”

  What exactly did sh
e need? Heat? Warmth? Comfort?

  Matthias didn’t question her. He crawled into bed and drew her into his arms, against him. She could feel his body tense from the cold, but he pulled her closer to him.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked in a gentle tone.

  Lilian couldn’t reply at first, but as his body heat warmed her and the trembling eased, she sighed. “I was being hunted. He caught me and threw a net over me. I started to burn.”

  He turned her in his arms so that her head was pillowed on his arm as he lay on his side, looking down on her. He brushed some damp hair from her brow.

  “Is this the first time you had this nightmare?”

  “No. Well, yes. The first time he caught me. Usually, I’m escaping, running through the woods and a white stag helps me.”

  She noticed him go still.

  “Tell me about them,” he said.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “Reoccurring dreams have a meaning,” he explained. “Maybe something in your dreams is trying to warn you.”

  Something or someone?

  Matthias played with her hair as she thought it over. Her muscles relaxed and the cold faded.

  “They’re pretty much always the same. I’m running through the woods, chased by hounds and a huntsman. Just before I’m caught or lose strength, a white stag appears and helps me.”

  “How does the white stag help?”

  “He either encourages me, runs with me, or puts himself between me and the huntsman. Tonight, he chased off the huntsman and removed the net covering me.”

  “Tell me about tonight’s nightmare.”

  Lilian squirmed a bit, trying to get closer. She stared up at him, into his golden eyes, which blazed as bright and hot as the sun.

  “I was running, but fell into a trap. One of those holes in the ground type of traps.”

  Matthias nodded.

  “The huntsman was there. I tried to use telekinesis on him, but it didn’t work. Then a net dropped on me. It started to burn.”

  “Can you tell me anything about the net?”

  She closed her eyes and concentrated on remembering. She had been so caught up in the pain and fear, she hadn’t paid much attention to what had caused it.

  “Not really, no.”

  Her eyes snapped open when he nuzzled at her neck and shoulder.

  “Matthias, please.”

  His lips turned upward into a smile against her skin. “What?” She heard the amusement and the playful innocence in his tone.

  “This isn’t the time or place.”

  “I’d say this is the perfect time and place,” he said. “I’m in bed with you and it’s nearly dawn.”

  She groaned. “You’re incorrigible.”

  “It’s the wolf in me.” Matthias nipped along her neck in gentle, little bites.

  Lilian shivered in reaction to the sensations skittering up and down her nerve endings. He lifted his head and touched her lips with his.

  She knew she shouldn’t be doing this, shouldn’t encourage him, but to be honest, she wanted him to kiss her. She wanted the sensations he caused when their lips met, wanted to feel wanted. It was an emotion Lilian rarely experienced as a child; the Custodes Secreti was not there to coddle the children in their program. Sometimes, if she was lucky, one or two members of the administration would show some form of affection, but it only made her realize what she was missing. Stephan had given what she craved, at first, and she had blossomed under his affection, but he changed and hurt her. When she ran away, she had buried the need deep down.

  Matthias’s kiss deepened, his tongue traced the seam of her lips until he had coaxed her to open them for him. His tongue delved into her mouth and caressed hers, invited her to respond. With a shy hesitation, she did and as their tongues slid against one another, wrestled with one another, desire flamed hot inside of her. She moaned.

  He pulled back to murmur against her lips, “Lilia mea,” and tasted his way over the curve of her jaw, down to her throat.

  My Lily. She loved the translation of his words.

  She tilted her head back as his lips brushed against the sensitive skin of her throat. Each tickling sensation made her heart beat faster and she squirmed beneath him, restless.

  His hand crept along her arm in a slow stroke, brushed against the curve of her breast and she jumped. His fingers caressed, teased the puckered nipple underneath her shirt and she gasped, her back arched, as she invited him to further his explorations. His lips returned to hers and devoured them as he slid his hand under her shirt to touch her breast in direct contact. His body shifted against hers, a leg moved to intertwine with hers. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close as her body went into meltdown.

  The muscles of her stomach twitched and jumped as his hand roamed over her skin until it reached the waistband of her panties. Lilian remembered she had removed her jeans and bra before going to sleep, now realizing how easy she’d made this for him. She tensed, waited to see what he would do. Little by little, he teased the skin along the waistband, and slid upward, dragging her t-shirt with, until he was touching, massaging her breast once more. The cool air in the room whispered across her heated skin and she broke the kiss to gasp and sigh. He kissed her chin, made his way down her throat, skipped over her bunched up t-shirt, and with languorous slowness, brushed his lips over a bared breast, before doing the same to the other.

  Lilian squirmed in restless anticipation. “Please, Matthias,” she pleaded. “Please.”

  She smiled just before he took her nipple into his mouth. She gave a soft cry as the heat of his mouth engulfed the sensitive nubbin, and her back arched up from the bed.

  All of a sudden, there was a beating on the door, shattering the sensual haze surrounding her. She went still beneath Matthias, who also tensed at the sound, but did not stop what he was doing.

  The door burst open and Tiberius stepped in. “Forgive the intrusion, but…”

  Matthias released her nipple, snarled something in their shared language.

  Tiberius stiffened, jerked upright, and slammed his right hand, fisted, over his heart. “My Lord!”

  “Get out!” Matthias snapped.

  Even she flinched at his tone.

  Tiberius nodded his head once and made his way to the door, but before closing it, he said, “Just wanted to let you know her house is on fire.”

  The door slammed, leaving a very stunned Lilian and Matthias.

  * * * *

  An hour later, they stood on the outskirts of her property watching as the firefighters finished putting out the hot coals of what used to be her house.

  Lilian took in the scene with a sense of horrific bewilderment. Matthias stood near her, kept an arm around her waist to keep her close to him. She knew it was to comfort and protect her as she had touched his thoughts. She was glad of his presence. If he hadn’t been there with her, she probably would have started crying.

  Another two hours passed before they were approached by the fire marshal and the police officers on scene. Matthias shifted his weight, as if preparing to fight, but she laid a hand on his arm to stall him.

  “I’m sorry, Lilian,” one of the officers began. “It’s completely gone. They couldn’t save any of it.”

  She gave a brief, weak smile to her friend. “Thanks, Ben.”

  Ben glanced between her and Matthias. “I know this is going to be hard for you, but…” He glanced back at her. “Where were you tonight?”

  Lilian tensed. “If you think I set fire to my own house, you’re insane. I loved this house. It was my home.”

  He flinched. “It’s my job to ask. You know that.”

  Matthias caressed her back. “Lilian.”

  She took a slow breath in, and, just as slow, exhaled.

  “Lilian was with me and my family,” Matthias replied for her. “After the vandalism, I took her into town to get a motel room, but when a couple of men started harassing her, I dec
ided to take her to my place for safety.”

  Ben and Officer Turner studied him. She frowned.

  “Matthias has been nothing but helpful. Plus, he was with me tonight, so he couldn’t have done it.”

  “All night?”

  Lilian felt the blush creeping over her face. “Yes, all night.”

  “Not all night, Lilia mea,” Matthias said. “You were alone, sleeping for about two hours before your nightmare woke us up.”

  Ben and Officer Turner glanced at one another before they looked back at Matthias. Officer Turner stepped toward him. “If you’d come this way, sir? I’d like to ask you a few questions in private.”

  Lilian started to protest, but Matthias leaned in and kissed her, shutting her up. Afterward, he smiled down at her.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart. It’s their job.”

  He walked with Turner some distance away. She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the chill of the early morning air without his presence.

  “How did you meet, err…what’s his name?” Ben asked.

  “He and his family helped me when I was harassed by a couple of men.” She looked to the charred ruins of what used to be her home. “He was with me when we found the vandalism inside my house.”

  “How long have you known him?”

  “Not that long. He didn’t do this, Ben. I’d know if he did.”

  “He could have had a family member, or a friend do it. He wouldn’t have had to do it himself.”

  Lilian shook her head. “No. I’d know.”

  Ben sighed and looked at the fire marshal.

  The marshal shrugged and said, “It was obviously arson. They didn’t even bother taking the cans with them when they left. We’ll have the cans dusted for prints, of course.”

  Lilian knew there was a ‘but’ in there. They’d have a better chance at winning the lottery than them finding any fingerprints on the cans. Still, she nodded and gave him a weak smile.

  “Better call your homeowner’s insurance and have this reported. They can get the ball rolling for you on getting some things replaced.”

  “Thank you.” She glanced over to Matthias and Turner.

  Matthias looked away from Turner, and winked at her. She blushed.

  “I hope you know what you’re doing,” Ben said.