Black Moon Rising (DarkLife Saga)

by Ronnie Massey

  “But, Ms. Trumaine,” Dante started, but a stern glance from Irulan made the young vampire clamp his mouth closed.

  My mother frowned and pointed a finger at Ire. “What’s going on with the boy, Ire?”

  “Hadrian first,” Ire said. She was stalling that wasn’t a good sign.

  Everyone stepped into the room, the entire lot of them frowning. “So what’s going on?” She asked.

  Daddy looked to Irulan and sighed. “Your cousin has received some rather disturbing news from the FaeLands. It seems my wife’s grandfather has completed the transformation to the Winter King. A messenger says we have less than twenty four hours before he will arrive in this realm.”

  “That explains the freak; isolated storm earlier,” Ire chimed in. “There was no rain here.”

  Isn’t that just dandy. “What do you need to call the Banshee, Ire?”

  Dante opened his mouth to talk but Ire threw up a finger. “I’m not actually going to be calling her.”

  “What are you talking about? You said that it was a Summoning Spell and that you could use it to bring the Banshee wherever we wanted.”

  “It is and I can, but I’m going to have to go about it in an-an indirect manner,” she sighed.

  “How indirect?” My mother asked.

  “Through Carrie,” she chirped.

  Here goes this bitch again. I should have drained her dry when I had the chance. “Pray tell, why?” I asked through clenched teeth; resisting the urge to scream and shout at my wife.

  My mother slipped her hands into mines and squeezed. Ire and I still hadn’t had the chance to discuss Carrie’s miraculous return to the land of the living and what impact it was going to have on our lives. Instead of getting into an argument, I filed the issue away for a more appropriate time. It looked like Fate was bound and determined to make me talk about this woman.

  Irulan shook her head and sighed. “The spell was meant to call loved ones to one another. To safeguard the users from discovery, a focus is required…someone close to the caster. There’s no one here that can act as a focus for the Harbinger, so that leaves Carrie.”

  “So what are you saying, Ire?” I could feel my anger rising like a living, palpable-thing that was trapped inside of me. As far as I was concerned there was no on here that would classify as being close to that woman either.

  “I’m saying that someone has to act as a focus for this to work and it’s the only option that we have, especially since we’re working against the clock.” Irulan grabbed the book from the table and shoved it into my arms, “The energy that the spell generates will gather inside of the focus and pull the object of the spell to the focus.”

  “So you're saying that you'll literally be the spell?” Yup I was definitely pissed.

  “That is exactly what she's saying, Ms. Valeria,” Dante spoke up. He shot a quick peek at Irulan and took a few steps closer to me. “She will have to channel wild magic inside of her and hope that this person still has a connection with her. If there is no connection, the magic will have nowhere to go.”

  “Meaning?” My father asked.

  “It could kill her if she's not strong enough to claim it,” Dante reluctantly admitted.

  “Hell no, it’s not happening,” I barked. “You’re not using yourself like some kind of mystical bug zapper!”

  “I don't think I need your permission,” Irulan frowned. “The last time I checked I was my own woman.”

  “Newsflash, you're not! You're my mate and I’m not letting you risk yourself like that.”

  “Funny, I think I said the same thing earlier today,” Irulan sighed. “Doesn’t feel good, knowing the person that you love most is willingly marching into harm’s way.”

  She had me there, but I still wasn’t having it. “It’s not the same thing,” I tried to reason, even though it sounded a little weak.

  “It’s exactly the same thing, Valeria,” My father said, taking Irulan’s side.

  “No, it’s not, Hadrian,” my mother said, coming to my defense. “What Val did left room for others to come to her aid. What Irulan is proposing leaves no room for error. I say no.”

  “This isn’t a democracy!” Irulan shouted. “This is my family also and I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure we’re safe.”

  “By the Gods, the whole lot of you sounds like a broken wreck!” Fazion shouted from somewhere outside of the door.

  “Who asked you?!” I fired back.

  “I think you mean record,” Rowan said out of the blue.

  “What?” Everyone said in unison and turned to look at her.

  Rowan shrugged her shoulders and pointed at Fazion who had made his way inside. “He said you sounded like a broken wreck. I think he means record.”

  “What she said,” Fazion mumbled and waved a hand through the air. “My point is, every one of you is ready and willing to jump into the face of danger to stop this thing, but when it comes to someone else doing the very thing you're willing to do, there’s a problem. It's going to take all of us, not one individual. We need a rock solid plan that leaves no room for failure, one that will take advantage of our individual strengths, or in this case, your combined strengths,” he finished by pointing at me and Ire.

  “We fought together, Fazion, and we weren't that impressive. We got locked inside our own trap, remember.” I reminded him.

  “And it’s a good thing that you did, or I might have never found out about the uniqueness of the bond that you share with my cousin.”

  “Don’t speak in riddles, Fazion,” Irulan sighed. She was one to talk.

  “Since your bonding, the two of you can communicate with each other here,” he said touching the side of his head, “With my sister able to use her mind as you do.”

  “Yeah, so,” I huffed. “That’s normal for mated couples.”

  “Normal vampire couples,” Fazion, answered. “You and Irulan are not normal. You transferred your consciousness today when you thought you were going to die. I saw you behind Irulan’s eyes.”

  “What?” Irulan turned to me, her face a wall of emotions and every one of them screamed ‘I’m confused’.

  “Whatever I did it was an accident and one that I don't plan on repeating,” I exclaimed. I shuddered at the memory and threw my hands up, “That was the freakiest thing I’ve ever experienced.”

  “That may be so, but if I’m right about the two of you, we just might have a way to keep the Harbinger and her ally separated long enough to destroy them individually.”

  Fazion smiled at Irulan and tapped a finger against her head. “Remember the trick that the two of us would play on your mother.”

  “The spell to merge our glamour,” she said.

  “If we find the right cage, one with enough metal to weaken the Banshee, but small enough that we could mask it from Carrie,” Fazion offered.

  Ire sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. “I think I see where you're going. That might work.”

  “What might work,” I asked.

  Fazion ignored me and kept talking to Irulan. “Tell me, can your vampire use Fae glamour?”

  “She can,” Irulan smiled.

  Fazion nodded and narrowed an eye at Stryfe. “We’ll need to hide my Manticores, of course, let her think that they've abandoned us,” Fazion fired back.

  “She knows I’ll never leave you,” Stryfe grunted.

  “Fine then, you stay,” Irulan laughed.

  “First we’ll combine our glamour and then you'll link with your vampire-.”

  “I have a name,” I grunted, but again he ignored me and kept talking.

  “I’ll be able to access her abilities, combining both Fae and vampire glamour. We hold them off long enough to imprison the Banshee and then your vampire will be free to take care of Carrie as she sees fit,” Fazion laughed as he clapped his hands. “This feels like the good old days, Sister.”

  “I never found joy in war the way that you do, Fazion,” Irulan sighed.

 
“Then find joy in our coming victory. Your parasites will live to leech off of the humans for years to come,” Fazion fired back.

  Every vampire in the room scowled at him, but we didn’t say a word; proof of how on edge the situation had made us all. Hopefully it was about to come to an end, because we were out of time.

  Chapter 23

  Almost an hour later, after going back and forth about the mechanics of the spell and the best time to cast it, Ire, Fazion, and Dante had finally come to an agreement. Noon was the ideal time according to Dante, but we needed the numbers our vampires would provide, so that was out. Ire was certain that any time would work and that the spell rest solely on the power of the caster. While Fazion was adamant that it be done during the witching hour. In the end, Fazion won. Midnight it was.

  My father and brothers were in our makeshift command room, looking for someplace that would suit our needs; while I spent the time with David and Rowan. After all this was over, Thomas was still going to be an issue, and I needed to know how the youngest Meriwether felt about my son before I went to the bat for her.

  After talking with them and learning just how far she went to protect David, I knew I had to do no less for her. If I had to I’d petition the Council and move her in with us.

  By the time the sun had lowered enough for everyone to go out safely, we were ready for our last hurrah. “So where are we heading,” I asked as I joined the others, strapping on a katana as I walked.

  “As far as we can tell, another park,” Tamerlane huffed as turned to look at me. “We still need to keep the fight away from the public, and finding just the right amount of metal in the middle of nowhere has been a challenge.”

  “But as luck would have it, a few weeks ago Trumaine Enterprises donated a statue to the city for their newest park,” Valerian smiled, “One that’s exactly like the globes that line our driveway.”

  “We’re going to run the specs by Lord Douche. If they meet his approval and Irulan is ready, we can get this show on the road.” Tamerlane sighed.

  “We’re ready and the globe should do just fine,” Irulan called out as she entered the room, flanked by her cousin and Stryfe. She was back in tactical gear and looked weary, but considerably better since getting a small recharge from the returned Manticores. I offered my hand, and she slipped her fingers into my own.

  Fazion glanced around the room and sighed before stepping to the table. “This is a perilous a situation we are dealing with. Before this day is over either the Harbinger and her cohort will be dead, or the Winter King will have arrived. We must make sure it is not the later.”

  I squeezed Irulan’s hand and nodded. “Are we ready people?”

  “As ready as we’re going to be, Sister,” Tamerlane grunted and lifted a gun to his shoulder. “Let’s hit it.”

  We filed out behind my brother in groups of two; Irulan and I bringing up the rear. When I walked out, my entire family was waiting. “Princess, I have never been more proud of you than I am right now,” My father said before turning and walking away. If I didn’t know, better I’d say it looked like he was about to cry.

  My mother threw one arm around me, and the other around Ire. “You two be careful.” She ordered both of us.

  “Always,” Ire, smiled. The rift between them was healed. Mama walked away leaving David, Dante, and Rowan staring at us. Rowan glanced uncomfortably at David and after a moment of silence, stomped her foot.

  David scowled at her before rolling his eyes. “I can't do it,” he spat. “I’m not going to stand here and pretend it’s a good thing that my parents have a death wish!” He turned to us, his face rolling with a transformation and his black eyes blazing. “What is it…was I not out long enough? Do you want to get away from me that bad?”

  Irulan jerked him into her arms and pressed her chin to the top of his head. “We’re doing this because of you, David. The Harbinger may overlook you because you don't have fae blood running through your veins, but if the Winter Kings sets foot in this realm, you could die. Rowan, Dante, all of your friends could die. This realm would be ravaged.”

  I rolled my shoulders and pulled Irulan away from our son. “Pull it together, David,” I said. “We have a job to do and once it’s over, we’re all going to sit back and laugh about this entire mess.”

  “Unlikely,” David sighed, as he turned away from us. “I’ll be waiting. Don't get dead.”

  “Never happen, Kiddo,” I called out. David walked away without looking back.

  “You do a good, Hadrian,” Ire pointed out as we made our way to the garage.

  “I don't know if I should thank you or thump you,” I replied, forcing a laugh.

  “I’ll let you know when we get back.”

  An hour and a half later, after a stop at home, we were gathered in Trinity Park, ten miles away from the nearest home. The vampires and weres stood in a loose circle watching the fae prepare their spells. There was an unnatural chill to the air that bit at my skin. I lifted my goose bump covered arm and lifted an eyebrow.

  “It’s the Winter King,” Irulan called out. “The realms are adjusting because of his return.”

  “Adjusting how?” Valerian asked.

  “Changes in temperature, heavier precipitation in areas that are already in winter…I can't be totally sure, Vedo. This is a rebirth of magic that was myth by the time I was born.”

  All three of my brothers pulled out phones and began searching. Tam was the first to hold up the screen for everyone to see. “They’re calling for at least four extra feet of snow than meteorologist originally called for in Colorado. They're calling it a freak storm.”

  “And temperatures have dropped at least five degrees all across the country,” Constantine added.

  “Focus, boys and girls,” Fazion, grunted. “We’re dealing with sensitive magic. I don't want my sister to go boom because of your bad auras.”

  Good point. We clamped our mouths shut and let them finish what they were going. Irulan was busy etching a pattern into the ground with an athame, while Fazion followed her, filling in the grooves with salt. Both of their lips moved in silence, casting spells of binding and protection. The Manticores moved through the trees around us, hanging charms filled with lavender, laurel, alder, and dragon’s blood. All elements that would bind the area in a circle of protection to further ensure Irulan’s safety…hopefully.

  Once their work was done, Fazion left the circle and came to stand by me. “We’re taking every precaution,” he muttered. “She will be fine.” I wasn’t sure if he were talking to me or himself. I glanced in his direction to answer and saw that his arm was shaking.

  “If you're trying to convince me, you're doing an awful job.” I sighed and turned to face him. “Irulan knows what she's doing. Everything will be okay. Once those bitches are here, we’re going to take them out and you can go back to being an asshole.”

  “Well said,” Fazion chuckled. Maybe after all this was said and done, the two of us might be able to stand each other. Who said miracles couldn't happen.

  “Alright, everyone,” Irulan called, commanding our attention. “It’s three minutes till twelve. The spell is complicated, so I’m going to go ahead and get started.”

  One by one we nodded. Irulan gave me a quick wink, then turned and sat down. We looked on as she used her magic to light the four candles surrounding her. I remained quiet as she drew a small painting out of her pocket and held it over one of the flames. It was a picture of Carrie; one that I had only seen once, and by accident at that.

  The small orange flame turned purple then leapt into the air, surrounding Irulan’s offering, consuming it but leaving her fingers unmarred. With the painting no more, Irulan held up one palm and lifted the athame. She slashed it across her skin without hesitation and held the bleeding appendage over another flame.

  The fire engulfed Irulan’s hand, burning away the flowing blood. Once the blood was nothing more than a few dry flakes, the flame turned a crimson that was almost t
he same shade as her hair. And so she continued, offering a different object to the remaining candles. Once she was done, Irulan dropped her glamour and began to chant.

  My brother’s groaned at the sight of Irulan’s true form and turned away to shield their eyes from her flames, as did the werewolves that were present. I glanced at my watch. Thirty seconds till midnight. I shifted my attention to my brothers. “Get ready, they should be here any minute,” I projected.

  “We’re as ready as we’re going to-what the fuck?” Tamerlane replied. I spun around, prepared to fight but found myself wanting to scream instead. In the distance, there were three bodies cutting through the woods coming right for us. Each one ran with speed only a supernatural creature could produce, and they looked like teenagers. As if I needed more proof than what my eyes had already provided, Dante began to wave his hands like a madman, screaming Irulan’s name.

  “Miss Irulan, stop! Don’t cast the spell!” He yelled. David, leading the way, echoed Dante’s pleas, as did Rowan.

  “Pray tell, what is the problem?” Fazion hissed behind me. “What are these children doing here?”

  “She can’t do the spell!” David huffed. “Dante says it’s not safe!”

  “Nonsense, Irulan-,” Fazion started, but I held up a finger.

  “Dante’s knowledge of obscure magic gave us a means to break David’s Meriwether sire bonds. If he says it’s not safe, she’s stopping.”

  I turned and shoved by him. “Irulan wait,” was what I intended to say, but the words died on my tongue. When I turned around, my mind went blank. Instead of stopping Ire, all of my attention was focused on the tree line past her. There were intense lights blinking in and out around us.

  David shot by me to Irulan, dropping to his knees in front of her.

  “Mom, are you okay?” He asked as he leaned forward waving a hand before her eyes. “Say something.” She didn’t answer.

  Dante began mumbling, rattling off ways to possibly counter the effects of the miscast. As he talked, the world around us began to darken. Rowan, silent until now, called our attention to the sky. “Mrs. Trumaine, I think you need to look up.” The full, silver moon that dominated the night sky was no longer silver. No one uttered a word. We were all shocked into silence as we watched a black haze work its way across it the moon’s surface, slowly blotting out the light. “It’s too late,” Dante croaked a second later.