Song of The Moon Artemis Lupine

by Banks, Catherine

  Gregory shook his head. "I didn't say that. I just meant that you have no idea what Victor is."

  Victor frowned. "Why doesn't she know what I am?"

  Ares answered before I could. "Her idiot father decided he wasn't going to tell her about being a werewolf until she changed for the first time. Problem is that she has been fighting her change since elementary school and he stopped her change when she answered my call. She was never taught about us or you or any of the others."

  I stared in shock at Ares. "Others? What do you mean others? Oh, wait like the witches?"

  Victor shook his head angrily. "What a fool. We don't have very much time to teach her though."

  Ares sighed. "I know. I was hoping you would help."

  Victor smiled. "I would be honored to."

  I walked to Gregory and asked, "Do you have any real food?"

  Gregory frowned. "You really should eat one of these steaks. Especially if you are going to continue to fight your change."

  I sighed and nodded my head. "All right, fine. But can you at least warm it up?"

  Gregory smiled and nodded his head. "Sure."

  I walked back over to Ares and put my hand on the inside of his arm. I suddenly felt scared and pressed my body to his arm. He stopped talking to Victor and looked down at me. "What's wrong?"

  I shrugged. "I'm not sure, I just suddenly got really scared."

  Ares sniffed the air then picked me up in his arms holding me tight against him. "Someone is here. Victor, did you bring anyone with you?"

  Victor shook his head sniffing the air. "No, but I know who it is." Victor walked quickly towards the front door throwing it open. I stared at the tall man standing on the porch looking in. He looked like Victor's twin, but without the black eyes. Victor hissed. "What are you doing here?"

  The man frowned. "Is that any way to treat your father and your king?"

  I stiffened in Ares' arms and wrapped my arms around his neck so that I was pressed tighter to him. Ares rubbed my leg with the hand that was holding them and whispered, "It's alright, you don't have to be scared of him while I'm here."

  I nodded my head and pressed my forehead to his cheek inhaling his smell and calming my nerves.

  Victor's father walked into the house and bowed at the waist to Ares and me. "Greetings Ares, Prince of the Werewolves."

  Ares set me down beside him and bowed at the waist to him. "Greetings Maurice, King of the Vampires. To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?"

  I gasped as he said the word, “vampires” and moved a step closer to him so that I was touching my entire left side to his entire right side. How come I didn’t guess that? Fangs equals vampire. Duh. Maurice stared at me in confusion then looked up at Ares. "Did I do something wrong?"

  Ares laughed and shook his head. "No King Maurice..."

  Maurice shook his head. "Just Maurice, Ares."

  Ares smiled. "Of course. No, Maurice. She is, well...I would like to speak with you and Victor about this in private if you wouldn't mind."

  Maurice stared at me second before inhaling. "She's a werewolf, but that other smell and those eyes. I know them, but can't think of where. Let's go talk before I figure it out and give something away you did not want her to know."

  Ares started to walk to the living room with Maurice and Victor and I grabbed his arm pulling him back to me. I whispered, "Don't leave me alone."

  He sensed the worry in my voice and smiled. "It's alright, Koda and Matt will protect you." He looked up at Koda and Matt and smiled, "Right?" Koda and Matt nodded their heads in unison with serious faces on. Ares snarled. "And you both know that if anything happens to her that I will have to punish you."

  Koda smiled. "I would have it no other way."

  Matt snarled. "Death may be a good punishment for that much of a failure."

  I stared in shock at them. "Why are you so willing to be punished if something happens to me? It makes no sense. You don't even know me."

  Ares sighed and shook his head. "I have to go. Keep her safe." I watched with growing nervousness as Ares walked from the kitchen to the living room. Once he was out of my sight I started to shift from foot-to-foot.

  Matt sighed. "Artemis it's okay. Victor and Ares have been friends since they were born and Maurice will not do anything to any of them because of that."

  I sighed and walked towards Koda. Koda stood perfectly still as I leaned my head against his chest. I exhaled a shaky breath and said, "I know you don't know me and I don't have any right to ask, but could you just hold me for a second? I would ask Bret, but he is not allowed to be alone with me and I don't fully trust him."

  Koda exhaled the breath he was holding and said, "I'm sorry about Bret. And I will do whatever you ask me to do."

  I wrapped my arms around his waist as he wrapped his arms around my shoulders. I whispered, "I'm sorry for causing so much drama here. I really am not a drama queen, by any means."

  Matt snorted. "You apologize too much Artemis. We know you aren't a drama queen and the drama that has been happening is not your fault."

  I turned to him and could see the jealousy in his eyes. I pulled away from Koda and walked towards him. "Why are you jealous? I did not pick Koda over you, I just assumed Ares would feel less threatened if he found Koda hugging me then you."

  Matt rolled his eyes. "I think Ares would be mad to find any of us hugging you, but if you are in need of consoling he would get over it. And I am jealous, but I'm trying to get over it."

  I stood one foot from him and looked up at his handsome face. "I swear I did not pick Koda because I favor him."

  Matt smiled. "Love, it's alright. I am just jealous when it comes to my brothers."

  I frowned. "Brothers? Who is your other brother?"

  Matt frowned and looked over my head at Koda. "Shit."

  Koda sighed. "Yes, shit is right."

  I sighed. "Just let Ares tell me. I'm used to it by now."

  Matt smiled and placed his hand against my face. "Thanks, Love."

  I frowned at him. "Why do you call me Love?"

  He shrugged. "I call most girls Darlin or something like that, but you are definitely Love. Mine or not, that is who you are."

  I blushed and looked down at my hands. Matt laughed and whispered, "I love that you blush."

  I pulled away from him and walked towards my bedroom. I heard them following me and sighed. "Can we go outside?"

  They both answered, "No," in unison.

  I groaned. "Fine, then can we sit at the dining table and play a game?" I turned around and looked up at their matching faces.

  Koda shrugged. "Sure."

  I smiled and walked back to the table and sat down at the head. Koda and Matt sat across from each other staring at me. I smiled. "We're going to play one hundred questions."

  Matt groaned. "You tricked us."

  I smiled and nodded my head. "Sort of. So, I'll go first. Why am I so attached to Ares already?"

  Koda smiled. "You are his passt genau, his perfect match. Only the strongest of our kind get one. You are born with a sort of mental and physical connection to him. Almost like you were literally made for him."

  I asked, "How many before have had a match?"

  Matt tapped his chin in thought for a moment. "Just one set that I know of, the Mother and Father."

  "Who are they?" I asked.

  Matt sighed and put his hand against his forehead. "I can't believe your father never told you any of this. The Mother is Asena..."

  I interrupted him. "Oh, yeah, the she-wolf that saved the baby then ended up mating with him to create werewolves."

  Matt nodded his head. "Yes, and the boy she saved is who we refer to as the Father."

  I nodded my head. "I understand that part, but how do you know that they were born for each other? What if it was just a coincidence?"

  Matt shook his head. "It was not a coincidence. The boy sent out a call like the one Ares did and Asena answered."

  I shook my head. "Bu
t he was human, not a werewolf."

  Matt shrugged. "I don't make the stories, I just tell them. That's what happened according to Asena."

  I shrugged. "If you say so. Okay, your turn."

  Matt and Koda looked at each other for a moment then Matt asked, "Have you ever slept with Bret?"

  I felt my eyes widen and shook my head. "No, never. I'm a virgin."

  Koda smiled. "Have you ever kissed Bret?"

  I shrugged. "Not like a boyfriend type of kiss, but a friend kiss. He did kiss me the night Ares called to me, but I didn't kiss him back."

  Koda and Matt exchanged a look then Matt asked, "Have you ever done anything with Bret or any other boy?"

  I shook my head. "I haven't even touched another boy besides Bret well and Billy, but I didn’t do anything then either."

  Koda asked, "Why not?"

  I stared at him for a second then sighed. "I've always been the outcast in my town. Bret was the only one who would be my friend, let alone touch me. And Billy was only talking to me and stuff towards the end. I think he was just trying to…well you know."

  Matt frowned, "Your dad never explained why to you?"

  I stared at him in shock and asked, "He knew why?"

  Matt and Koda nodded their heads in unison. Koda said, "It's because you're a werewolf. Humans can sense that we are predators and fear us. Bret must have just ignored the feeling because of your physical appearance."

  I felt the first tear fall down my face and asked, "What's life like when you are raised with others of our kind?"

  Matt shrugged. "Like the humans except that we are much closer, like a family. I firmly believe that your childhood would have been a lot easier if you had been around your own kind."

  I felt the tears falling and asked, "How close is the nearest group?"

  Koda whispered, "This one and it's about one hundred miles."

  I stood up and started to walk towards my bedroom when Ares walked into the dining room. He frowned at me and walked quickly to me wrapping his arms around me. "What's wrong?"

  I shook my head. "It's nothing Ares."

  He growled. "What did you two say to her?"

  Koda said. "She asked us about why she was an outcast with the humans and what it would have been like to grow up around us."

  Ares sighed. "Sorry Koda."

  Koda laughed. "Don't worry about it Ares."

  Ares pushed me back and said, "I'm sorry about your father. If I could change time for you I would."

  I nodded my head and wiped at the tears on my face. "I know Ares. It's alright."

  He snarled. "It's not alright. I'm going to find your father."

  I shook my head. "You can't leave me again. PLEASE!" I grabbed both of his arms and gripped as hard as I could.

  Ares stared in shock at my face and Matt cleared his throat making me release my hold a little. Matt said, "She is starting to show the symptoms Ares."

  Ares looked over my head at Matt. "Describe."

  Matt said, "She started to panic when she watched you walk away from her and grew increasingly nervous when you were out of her sight. She had to have Koda hold her to stop her panic."

  Ares looked down at me and asked, "Is that true?"

  I felt the blush on my cheeks, looked down and lied, "No."

  "You have no reason to be embarrassed. It's part of what we are. It means that you are finally letting go and soon you and I will be fully connected."

  I shrugged still looking down. "So, I was a little nervous."

  Matt gave a short bark of a laugh. "You were about to run after him."

  "Shut up Matt."

  Ares shook his head smiling. "It's really alright Artemis. I promise I won't leave you unless I have to."

  I felt my heart pick up and shook my head. "That's not a good enough promise." I growled. "I don't like this feeling."

  Ares nodded his head. "I understand Artemis. I feel the same way."

  I stared at him and said, "You don't act like it."

  He smiled. "I hide it. Wouldn't you think I was a little odd if I got all nervous when I walked away from you?"

  I nodded my head. "Ya, I guess you're right."

  He hugged me against him. "We'll get through this first part and get on to the easier parts soon. I came in here to get you though. Will you come with me to speak with Victor and Maurice?"

  I shrugged. "As long as I can touch you while I'm near them."

  Ares nodded his head. "Deal. I'm not sure why you are scared of them though. Your werewolf side should make you feel safe around them."

  I shrugged. "Maybe it's my other side."

  Ares frowned. "Yes, probably. I hope Maurice and I are wrong about what you might be."

  I frowned. "What is that?"

  Ares shook his head. "I can't tell you right now. Come on." I let him lead me by the hand to the living room where Maurice and Victor sat in chairs facing the couch. Ares sat down on the couch pulling me down with him. I scooted as close as I could without being in his lap.

  Victor smiled. "I promise we won't hurt you or Ares."

  I nodded my head and licked my lips nervously. "Okay."

  Maurice smiled making his face look less frightening. "How old are you?"

  "Eighteen."

  He frowned. "How old were you when you stopped your first transformation?"

  I shrugged. "I think ten."

  His eyes widened a little bit, almost unnoticeable if you weren't watching for it. "Have you ever changed?"

  I shook my head. "No, I almost did when Ares called to me or whatever, but my dad threw me in the creek and stopped it."

  Victor asked, "Do you remember hearing Ares' call?"

  "When he howled on TV? If that was his call, then, yeah."

  Victor asked, "Do you remember answering?"

  I shook my head. "No, I was watching the TV and thinking how gorgeous he was in wolf form and that it was strange that I wasn't afraid of him at all when I saw him killing people, then I started convulsing. Then my dad threw me in the creek and put me to bed. When I woke up I felt something was wrong, no, I thought wrong, but it was more like I felt drawn outside and there was Ares and Koda and Matt."

  Maurice asked, "Why don't you want to change?"

  "I don't want to answer that in front of Ares." I said softly.

  Ares groaned. "You might as well, because I'm going to be asking you anyway."

  I groaned and scooted a little ways away from Ares, not looking at him. "I don't want to change yet. If there is a chance that I could be human..."

  Maurice interrupted me. "No. I'm sorry child, but even if you don't change you are still half werewolf and half..."

  Ares cleared his throat stopping Maurice from finishing. I growled and glared at Ares. "Why won't you let him tell me?"

  Ares smiled. "It is too dangerous for you to know."

  I snarled at him. "Just tell me."

  He snarled back. "No and watch yourself. I will not allow you to challenge my authority."

  I sighed and pushed down my anger, staring down at my hands. "Sorry Ares. It's hard to control my anger sometimes."

  He sighed. "I understand. If you would change it would be a lot easier."

  I groaned. "I get it alright. I need to change. Just give me some time."

  Ares titled my head up and smiled at me. "I'll give you however much time you need."

  I smiled back at him and then looked at Victor and Maurice who were watching us intently. I pulled away from Ares and blushed. "Sorry. I forgot you two were here."

  Maurice spoke softly, "She is delightful Ares, but you must teach her how to act properly."

  Ares nodded his head. "I'm sorry Maurice. I didn't know you were coming otherwise I would have."

  Victor laughed. "I think you should leave her be. It's nice to have someone not treating you different."

  Ares smiled. "She's good at it."

  I stared at the three of them. "I think I missed something?" They all nodded their heads and I shrugged.
"Whatever."

  Maurice asked, "Do you remember your mother?"

  I shook my head. "No, she left when I was five years old."

  Maurice's eyes widened considerably from shock. "When you were five? Exactly?"

  I nodded my head. "I remember it because it was the day before my birthday."

  Victor asked, "Did your father ever tell you about her?"

  I shook my head. "At first he said she was going on a trip, but the more years that passed he just said that he didn't want to talk about it. I have seen a picture of her, but that’s it. I stopped asking Darren about her when I turned ten."

  Victor asked, "When you started having the seizures?"

  I nodded my head. "Yeah, but I guess that was really me trying to change."

  Maurice nodded his head. "Yes, it was."

  I sighed and said, "My mother left because of me and I know that. I don't know why, but someday I will."

  Maurice smiled. "I'm sure you will. Now, what did your father tell you about yourself? How did he explain your purple eyes?"

  "I didn't know I had purple eyes until Ares came to get me. I always had contacts in and we didn't have a mirror in the house. He always made me change out my contacts in the bathroom too. It's why Bret didn't know either."

  Victor asked, shock evident in his tone, "You didn't have a mirror?"

  I shook my head. Ares explained, "She didn't even know what she looked like until she came here and I made her look in the mirror."

  Maurice rubbed his chin. "I'm beginning to understand Ares' desire to find your father. To not tell your daughter about her heritage or to let her meet others of her own kind is monstrous."

  I looked at Maurice. "Can I ask you a question?"

  "Of course."

  I whispered, "What are you?"

  Maurice smiled and looked at Ares. "May I?"

  Ares nodded his head. "Of course. I was going to have Victor tell her later anyway."

  Maurice smiled and said, "Do not be frightened child, I will not harm you, alright?"

  I nodded my head and moved closer to Ares. He held my hand and smiled. I watched as Maurice looked down at the ground and inhaled. I could feel a strange pressure, like the tide pulling at my legs, moving towards him. He looked up at me and I gasped, jumping over the back of the couch behind Ares.

  Maurice's eyes were solid black like Victor's and he smiled revealing long fangs where his small canines used to be. He said, "I told you not to be frightened."