The Quarter Moon (Afterlife saga)

by Stephanie Hudson

  I shot up and as soon as I saw Vincent getting up from the floor that was when I found my limit and the last thing I saw before darkness was an Angel running forward to catch me.

  “I am so sorry…so…sorry…oh…Keira.”

  Chapter 15

  Impossible Dreams and Clashing Nightmares

  I woke up in a twisted mess on the floor screaming. I tore off the covers and got up trying to make sense of what had just happened. I didn’t know whether I had just had a blissful dream or a disastrous nightmare but somewhere along the line, the two had merged into one, just like the Draven brothers.

  I didn’t know where my warped brain was at, but that dream had seriously thrown me. I deflated back onto the bed and I dragged the covers from the floor back around me, like they would somehow make me feel safer. I wanted to know where the Hell my head was at dreaming craziness like that, but then I only had myself to blame. I mean really, what type of person was I, kissing Vincent like that…? I felt my mind screaming at me from inside, ‘he was Draven’s brother for Christ sake!’

  I sat there shaking, feeling horrified with myself and the lengths I went to, to feeling comforted. I should never have done that and now this was my penalty. A dream that quickly spun out of control and ultimately became a punishing memory I would have to hold with me forever.

  After beating myself up some more, I finally dragged myself up and tried to scrub the dream from my body in the shower. I felt both sick and ashamed but the guilt wasn’t just for Draven, but also for Vincent. There was no denying that the kiss we shared meant something deep for both of us and I didn’t want to ever wish it had never happened, so I didn’t really know what to do with it…that was ultimately my biggest problem.

  After my shower I got dressed, went downstairs and forced some breakfast into my stomach. It was strange getting ready and not having a mane of hair to deal with, but what was weirder and harder to get used to was every time I caught my reflection I saw someone so different looking back at me. One of these times I had to take a minute to figure out some stranger wasn’t outside the window peering in at me.

  It was only when pouring my second cup of tea that something twigged in my head. Something that once I was in the same room with any Draven, flew straight out of my head and stayed there until now. I got up and rummaged in one of the kitchen drawers until I found a small taxi card that looked like it had spent most of it life in a man’s wallet as it was still ass cheek shaped. I then called a ‘Cab’ and raced upstairs to get my stuff together before it arrived.

  Fifteen minutes later I found myself sat in the back of ‘Catch a Cab’, leaning forward and telling a cool looking rock chick, my destination,

  “Afterlife”

  As we pulled up outside the massive building that looked more like a perfect setting for an English period drama rather than being a Goth nightclub, I felt the twinge in my chest. Even the building was like another person in my life that had been ripped away from me and seeing it this way, all closed up tight and not welcoming with life, it was hard to take in.

  “Right Chicky, here you go.” Said the cool looking taxi lady, who could have entered a Daisy Duke contest and come away with first prize. I looked to the meter and fished out the cash, including a tip.

  “Just a quick question.” She said slapping her glossy lips together a minute to judge my reaction. I nodded for her to continue.

  “Why you here anyhow? I mean, the joint don’t exactly look like its rocking any time soon.” She said as she scanned the closed doors and deserted car park.

  “Someone’s waiting for me.” I told her in a voice that screamed ‘Emotional’ and after a frown she handed me a card and told me to ring the number if I needed another cab and told me to ask for ‘Jax’. I thanked her then watched her until she was out of sight.

  Then I just stood there and took in the building like it was the last time I would ever see it. I followed the green lines of the thick ivy that was closer to taking over than the first time I had seen its beauty. I flashed back to that first day and I found I was still overwhelmed by its imposing structure.

  This was Afterlife and inside, I had found that in the literal sense in more ways than one. It both contained the elements of dreams and nightmares, Heaven and Hell’s creatures and the living Gods of a world most people would run screaming from if they only knew the truth. But me…well I was running screaming into the arms of that world and praying with every step that it would take me back. So, with that in mind, I did what I had come here to do. I entered my Afterlife.

  I now at least knew why Vincent had let me see the new code he’d programmed into the panel at the door. One look up at what I had climbed yesterday and I shuddered at the thought of doing that again. I think he knew right off the bat that my craziness knew no limits and at least this way he was ensuring that craziness didn’t lead to a broken neck.

  I entered the date of my birthday, one that would be with me in three days time and let myself into the club. The place was stark and eerie in its silence, but more so when I knew that not one soul but mine was contained within its walls. The bar area had been stripped of all bottles and the glasses had been covered in thick clear plastic. All signs pointed to a place that would be locked up tight and closed for the long haul. It was sad to see a place I loved become so forgotten and lost to me. With that in mind, I quickly walked through that large open space until I was stood looking up at the next heartbreak.

  The last time I was here didn’t give me long enough to process the emotions that seeing this place again did to me. I could easily put this down to one big playing factor and his name was Vincent. As soon as I took one look his way, I think I even forgot where I was. But now…now there was no time for forgetting, there was only time for hurting.

  I walked numbly to the focal point in the vast open space that was the main part of the club. I wondered what it was like for all those who came here and had those double staircases taunting them like that. What went through their heads when that one time a year they saw the Dravens descend on their little town and up those steps like royalty they could never touch? And then there was me, the only one to infiltrate that dream and find soul shattering love on the other side.

  I walked up the steps shaking my head asking myself how I had even survived it all, when the final bullet to the heart was that damn chair coming into view! There it stood waiting for its master, one that wouldn’t be coming home any time soon and one that made me run to its core like an anchor in the devastating twister that was my feelings.

  There I found what I had dropped and left forgotten, for the arms of an Angel. I picked up what I knew was another letter from the Oracle but I couldn’t open it yet. What I did do was what I would have done if Vincent hadn’t found me and that was to crawl onto Draven’s chair, curl up tight and let myself go. I allowed my tears to fall freely as I thought back to all the things I had lost and I told myself this was the very last time I was going to cry about this situation the fates had thrown me into.

  I shook like a sobbing child and started to claw at the high back as if searching there for Draven’s scent. I pressed my face deep into the padding and continued to take deep breaths, filling my lungs with what I thought was the last remnants of Draven’s Godly fragrance and felt my body go tight, so tight everywhere just ached and I froze when I couldn’t get any tighter. For then I knew each breath might be the last. I wanted to scream again in an anger that always came booting its way back to my gut and kicking me there until I was out of that precious breath. The need to have Draven back in my life wasn’t just consuming but it was lifesaving. It was as though I was drowning in my own ocean of misery and I was kicking and twisting my whole body, trying to stay afloat.

  This was when I saw it. This was the precise moment I saw myself that very night. I couldn’t believe my eyes, just as I couldn’t all that time ago. It was after the night with Justin and Draven had taught him what he thought was a very valuable lesson, one that meant
not ever coming on to his woman. I say this because this was what he had told me days later.

  But now I was looking back at myself, one with long blonde hair and a confused look that said my other self couldn’t understand what she was seeing, just as I couldn’t. I remembered that night, the one crazy moment I had witnessed this horrible space in time that was now confirmed to be my future. It was just before I walked into Sophia’s play room and found Draven dripping in beauties, all to teach me a cruel lesson.

  I watched the moment my breath caught and my step became staggered in the past. I wanted to scream out at her, to tell her to run from the hurt she was about to endure, but would that have stopped me? I mean, would I have really run a mile and hitched my way back to England, if I knew the outcome? The thought of all that time with Draven, even if it was going to get ripped away from me at some point, would I have really turned my back on that? I knew the answer to that one and it went a bit like ‘not bloody likely’!

  The image of my other self faded away like thick smoke being wafted by someone’s hand. At this point I pulled myself together and forced my fingers to uncurl the letter I had subconsciously held to my chest. Then I got up and just because I needed to know, I walked over to the large carved doors at the back that led into the Draven fortress. I don’t know why, but when they didn’t open, it still caused that crater that was in my chest to erode further. I mean, I was expecting it, but that just went to prove the point that even the greatest expectations hurt like the Hell they put us through. Expecting the worst can always get worse and expecting the best can always get better. The lesson learnt in this still made me do daft shit and trying to open this door was one of them.

  I just ended up walking away feeling even worse than before and these days it was surprising that could even happen. So I walked over to the balcony, placed my hand on the glass and sucked in the fresh air in the hopes of cleansing the pain. Once there I used the light of day to read my next letter.

  Kissing Angels is the price you pay getting into Hell,

  For the time you spend there will be as quick as ringing the Bell,

  As to what you find, then the choice will be yours,

  I am only the map but you are the key to those doors,

  So take heed of my warning, for it will be your last,

  The quest you take will drag you under, hard and fast,

  So learn how to swim my dear and make that current your own,

  Ride the wave of doubt to your destination that will bring you home,

  Being that of course…

  ‘Roses in a Dome’

  With that all said enjoy your flight Tricks,

  And don’t forget to add a drink to the mix!

  P x

  I stared at this for a few minutes and then noticed a few lines on their own written on the back, so I turned it over and read the rest.

  p.s

  In five minutes you will find, many black circles all entwined,

  Suffice to say this booted man, will easy bring down this angry clan,

  So rest assured and hold on tight, for Mr Handsome to take flight.

  I re-read this part about three times before I heard the evidence of what the Oracle was trying to tell me. I turned and walked back into the VIP but as soon as I did, I froze. Voices were making their way up to where I stood and I looked down in horror as there were now five men dressed in what looked like black combat gear spreading out searching the bottom part of the club.

  I held myself as still as possible but then realised from many nights of experience when I first started working here, that you could barely see up here. So, with that in mind, I stuffed the letter in my pocket, feeling the coin I always kept there and got down on all fours. I started to crawl closer to the balcony, making sure I kept in the shadows. From here I was close enough to hear what they were saying.

  “I know she is here…Find her!” A crackled voice spread out like prickly thorns along my skin and I shuddered. These men were looking for me, but why? Ok, so forget the why, more like, how the Hell was I going to get out of here?!

  I looked around and only saw two exits, one meant climbing the ivy and possibly falling to my death or the other was a door I hadn’t yet tried and one that might possibly be locked. The door I usually used to get into the VIP so I wouldn’t ever have to use the stairs, was sitting there like a calling beacon, so after weighing up my options one sentence from the thugs made my decision,

  “Find her, knock her out and drag her ass back to the boss.” This came from the obvious leader and kicked in my flight mode and the mental shot gun sounded in my head…RUN!

  And I did just that. I scrambled up and ran towards the door I had used too many times to count. I weaved in and out of tables and chairs as I ran for the door, praying that this one would be open and then my access into the depths of Draven’s home would be available for me to hide in. There were only two places to go and one of those took me straight down to the main part of the club, somewhere right now I really didn’t want to be. But there were two parts of this plan that I didn’t figure happening, one would be that the commotion I was causing with my running into furniture and the fact the men clearly now knew where I was and the other was having to skid to a halt when the door swung open and a dark figure emerged.

  I took one look at the massive hooded giant coming towards me and turned to bolt in the other direction. If I could just make it back to the balcony, then maybe I would have a slim chance at getting away from this new nightmare. My heart was pounding with the surge of adrenaline pumping through my system and I thanked God for it, for without it, it would be times like this that I would have just curled into a frightened ball and shook. But no, not thanks to this natural drug that was a driving force.

  I circled round and just before I came close to the railings of the staircase I was grabbed from behind. An arm that felt like it could have belonged to the Terminator snaked around my waist and slammed me back into a wall of chest. Another hand quickly grabbed my throat and his hand was so large it spanned the entire column of my neck. He held me still and when I tried to break free he applied a little pressure as a warning. I then felt slight movement behind me as he lowered his head, closer to my ear.

  “Ssshh lille øjesten.” That incredibly deep voice vibrated through me once again and as I shivered I felt his thumb create little soothing circles along my skin.

  “Down!” He ordered then he moved quickly and I found myself being pushed down to the floor by heavy hands at my shoulders. He pushed so hard that if I hadn’t bent my knees my legs would have snapped. This being the case he also gripped my jacket so that my knees didn’t bang too hard on impact as he lowered me until I was tucked below his leg.

  My last thought before the sounds of destruction erupted around us was…

  Thick black boots were back.

  Chapter 16

  Black Ink

  I looked up to find myself in between the legs of giant, one who was clearly getting ready to kick some ass! He widened his stance and I saw him start to shrug one arm out of his long dark grey jacket. It came down to the back of his knees and its heavy hood remained hiding his face. I wondered how he even saw anything with only his square chin being exposed.

  Underneath this massive cloak-like jacket, I could see black leather trousers, black t-shirt and some kind of leather straps across his huge chest. Every single thing about this guy screamed dangerous and colossal and this was coming from someone who knew a Ragnar!

  He was so tall I could have easily lived in between his legs and still had room to spare…of course not in a rude way. That thought alone terrified me, one hug and you would be crushed, let alone what a night with a man like this could do. One thing was for sure, he would roll over and you would lose weight pretty quickly!

  Once he had freed his arm, I sucked in a quick breath when I saw it was practically covered in tattoos. Only these were unlike any I had ever seen before, as it wasn’t like a sleeve tattoo as there were
spaces in between each one. They were thick black bands, each one different in design and they all got thicker the further up his arm they went. I noticed one as he brought his arm to the railing by my head and it was then I noticed they were all snakes ringed around strong muscle eating their own tails.

  The commotion downstairs was getting louder and three of the men had started to come up the staircase at us. I sank down lower and gave a startled little moan when I saw that the snakes had all started to move, each one circling round his arm in opposite directions.

  The very last one was the smallest on his middle finger, about an inch thick and just past the first joint closer to the tip, this moved clockwise. The next was a banded snake that had little spikes and was slightly thicker running across the back of his hand and palm, this one moved anti-clockwise. This was the theme running up until I couldn’t see past the sleeve of his t-shirt.

  The closer the men got, the faster they all spun and soon I watched wide-eyed as they started to move down and join together creating an entire arm of black ink. Then I gave a surprised cry as the ink shot from his arm like black tar and ran down the length of the banister towards all three men. It was like thick glue and I couldn’t hold in the scream when it reached the men and whipped out like elasticated webbing and latched onto their necks. Once there, it became hard, setting like cooling lava rock and all three branches that had necks in their grasp, all twisted at the same time and the sound of bone snapping echoed in the vast space.

  After seeing the life leave the eyes of three men, the branches uncurled like a sticky vine and all bodies dropped to the steps, two of which rolled backwards down until they finally came to rest at the club’s floor. The other two watched this, as it all happened in seconds and then after a quick nod to each other, they pulled two guns each from behind their backs. That’s when I got my first encounter with flying bullets.