Fate of the Blood Moon's Path

by Tiffany Potter

  Caleb, standing in the lightning of the incoming storm. One lone man, standing there, after just shifting back from his wolf form. He screamed a loud scream that could’ve woke the dead. There was a sadness in the air tonight.

  He knelt down holding her lifeless body close to him. As close as he could. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever set his eyes on. Even after death. Her body was still glowing. Some foot steps came from behind him. Some of his own kind who knew of her, and what was happening. The light from the torches set things straight. This scene had told them why he had screamed. She lay lifeless.

  A sensation came through to him. He was kicked. It was the child they had created together. A child he had not known about, until now. The child was still alive. Startled and panicked, he let go of the body and turned to the men behind him, “Knife!” He said in a panic. One of the men handed him his hunting knife.

  He took the knife, because he knew of no other way, and cut open her belly. He was hysterical at this point. He didn’t want to mutilate her body anymore, but he did. This was their creation.

  He cut her belly and took out the child. One of the men behind him came closer and gave him the shirt that he was wearing so that he may wrap the child in it.

  This child was not crying. This was his daughter. She lay there looking up into her father’s eyes, with those electric green eyes.

  She looked like her mother.

  “Burn the body.” He whispered to the men behind him. She lay there in those blood soaked daisies.

  “Those creature with their blood lust.” Said a voice next to him, as he reached down with the torch and set her body ablaze.

  Some ravens in the near by trees were calling out in sadness and in pain as they look down to survey.

  “My child, my Angel.” Caleb whispered to his daughter. He walked his way back down through the forest trails with his friends and torches. Carrying his child close to his heart. The only thing left back there was a burning corpse and his heart that was now broken. The song of death echoed through the trees.

  The child was taken back to the village. She was a living creature that was brought into this world from the great spirit. She was small and pale and helpless.

  These people believed that everything had a purpose.

  “I’ll be back for you someday my child!” A cloaked figure screamed.

  “AHHHHHHH!” I awoke from my dreams, seeing daylight was filling my bedroom. That figure. That dream I had when I was eleven years old. That figure had killed the both of my parents in that dream. In reality, he really did kill my mother.

  “Angel!” My father came running into my room, “Are you alright? What is it?”

  “Just a bad dream.” I said. He stood there looking at me waiting for something more. He saw through it. “Victoria.” I mumbled. He looked at me with a little shock in his eyes.

  “Your mother…what did you see?” He asked, sitting down in the chair that was next to my bed.

  “How she was killed. And how you saved me.” I looked away from him and towards my open bedroom window. I must have left it open last night during the storm because the floor was all wet underneath it.

  “Oh…” his voice was raspy. “The storm must have triggered the memory.” He said, almost low enough I could barely hear it.

  “Thank you.” I said.

  “For what?” He asked.

  “For saving my life.”

  “I wouldn’t have had it any other way, my daughter.” He attempted to smile. His face had wrinkles around his eyes.

  “I don’t understand though.”

  “Why I saved you?”

  “No,” I laughed. “Why he had his own daughter killed.”

  “According to her kind, they have laws and when you break them, you forfeit your life. When given commands, you do it, or death will be your punishment.” That sounded pretty familiar.

  “We don’t have laws like that…why?” I asked. You would think that I would know the answers to all these questions, but I really didn’t know the politics of the species. I just did the killing.

  “Because we are free. We have free will. We don’t operate like them.”

  “I understand.”

  “How about something to eat?” He asked. “You look like you could use some grub.” He got up and walked out heading downstairs.

  I followed him after throwing a towel on the wet floor. When I got to the kitchen I saw the newspaper sitting on the table.

  “What? Are you kidding, six more found dead!” I started reading the article. A husband, a wife, two children, a dog, and a grandmother. My heart felt heavy with this news.

  “The council meeting will be tonight so we can figure out what we will do. You will be there, correct?” He asked.

  “Of course I will…” I paused, “What if I do something drastic?” I looked up putting the paper away not wanting to see anymore about those people who never had a chance.

  “You’re going to do what you’re going to do.” He sat down, not looking at me and started in on his breakfast.

  “This has to stop.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.”

  I sighed.

  I really didn’t eat a lot this morning, my mind was elsewhere. I just picked through my scrambled eggs and nibbled on my toast.

  The thoughts of those people were running through my head. This time, at least now, I knew that these thoughts were my own. I could now tell the difference between my thoughts and the thoughts that were not of my own. I still had so many questions left to ask Draven. Like, how did he get close enough without being caught all those times? And, was he distracting me last night so those people could be killed? No. He couldn’t have. No. I didn’t want to believe that he was capable of something like that. But, he was a Vampyre.

  Maybe he didn’t know, but I had to find out. I had to know. After picked at my breakfast, I ran upstairs to shower and get dressed. I threw on some old worn out jeans and a faded purple t-shirt. I never wore shoes unless I had to, so I went barefoot; and my hair was thrown up in a messy bun.

  I came back downstairs to find my father still at the table reading the paper. How could he read all those nonsense stories. He once said to me that he likes to read all the human news because he wanted to know what was going on in the outside world, in case it affected us. I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and told him I was going to walk around the shore. He said to be careful, like I needed to be told.

  “What do you want?” I heard a deep voice that didn’t seem annoyed, but curious, coming from the tree line. I assumed he wasn’t going to be stepping out into the sun today or out in the open. Not that he would burst into flames or anything like you’d see in all the movies. In reality, the sun was only slightly painful to them. Like a really bad sunburn. And it made them thirst more.

  “I didn’t call for you.” I said walking up into the forest where he was.

  “You didn’t have to. I heard it here.” He touched my temples with his cool fingertips. I saw him take a deep breath. He was taking me in.

  “What are you doing?” I asked him.

  “If you’re going to be reckless and go out there tonight, I need your scent so I can keep track of you.”

  “Keep track of me…?”

  “Make sure that nothing happens to you.”

  “Are you going to be the only one out there of your kind?”

  “No.”

  “Well, my friends won’t be as nice as me to your kind. So they better watch out and stay out of the way.”

  “Wait, how do you know when…whatever this thing is, will be attacking?” He ignored my question. I turned to walk back to the shore, but he grabbed me wrapping his arms around me and holding tight. My arms stayed at my sides. I didn’t know what he was going to do or why I was letting him do this. I’d never let my guard down before. He was freezing, and it didn’t bother me at all. It was almost a comforting feeling.

 
“No. I didn’t distract you last night so those people could be killed. I didn’t know anything about it until this morning.”

  “Oh.” I said, short of breath. Being next to him like this was kind of making me weak in the knees. He let go of me, smiling. I wrapped my arms around him, not knowing why I did.

  “Now go.” He kissed the top of my head. “Walk the shore line like you’re supposed to. Your friends are coming.”

  “Will you be listening in on the council?” I asked.

  “Should I be?” He gave me a smile that was simply unbelievable, and full of sharp teeth.

  “No.” I said. “How have you not gotten caught all these times you’ve been over here? We have magick at all the borders on our land.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” He winked.

  “Because we all have our own little secrets right?”

  “Something like that.” His accent was amazing.

  “If I really want to know how you did it?”

  “Just use your imagination,” He smiled again.

  “I don’t have time for imagination. You just can’t tell me?” I sort of whined.

  “Angel.” He sighed.

  “Robert.” I mocked him.

  “Go back to the shore before your friends think you’ve gone missing.” Then he was gone. Just a blur that vanished into the forest.

  I made my way back to the shore and sat underneath the trees at the edge of the forest. He was right; I could hear their voices coming from down along the beach.

  I looked up and saw the Six, along with Rayna and Micah, walking towards me.

  “What are you doing out there all by yourself?” Rayna asked, as she sat down next to me.

  “Wandering aimlessly.” I smiled.

  “Don’t you think a Vampyre could just swoop in and take a bite right outta you, White Girl?” Tobey asked.

  I rolled my eyes, “They’d have to get past the border magick first.”

  “Yea, true.” He added.

  “Are you ready for the council meeting tonight?” Rayna asked me.

  “Ready as I’ll ever be, my dear friend.”

  “I’m anxious to get back out there to kill something.” Micah grinned.

  “What if whatever is out there is not the Vampyres, or has nothing to do with them?” I asked.

  They all turned and just looked at me like I was a crazy person.

  “I’m serious. There are greater evil things out there than the Vampyres.”

  “It has to be them. There is nothing else around here that can do that.” James was now getting defensive.

  “Seriously Angel; come on! It has to be them.” Chris added.

  “At what point did you start losing your mind?” Kent asked.

  “What is this, gang up on Angel day?” Rayna stood up for me.

  I nodded to her. “I’m just saying… In all my years, I’ve come across other things, other beasts that are like the Vampyres, or worse.”

  “I think the sun is getting to you, White Girl.” Tobey laughed.

  I just shook my head.

  “We have been feuding with them for hundreds of years, but I think Angel may be right.” Rayna said. “We just have to be prepared for whatever may be out there. Vampyre or not.”

  “Are you sticking up for these bloodsuckers?” James asked.

  “We’re taught to hate them, so is that the only reason we do hate them?” I asked.

  “You can’t be serious? Listen to yourself!” He shouted at me. Everyone went silent and still.

  “You’re just being a miserable bastard because you can’t go out there with us.”

  “Oh, I can. You just think that you’re in charge and tell me that I can’t go out there.”

  “I am in charge when it comes to things like this James.”

  “Whatever. I’m done here. I don’t give a damn anymore. I’m done with you. Why don‘t you all just go join the Vampyres and get it over with.” He stood up fast and ran off. The others followed him. It was now just me, Rayna, and Micah.

  “What the hell was that?” Micah asked.

  “I’m not sure.” Rayna said looking over at me.

  I shrugged and leaned back against the tree behind me.

  “He’ll get over it soon enough and be sneaking in your window before you know it.” Micah laughed.

  “Oh I hope not.” I smiled. “That’s the last thing I need right now.”

  “I’m going to go talk to ‘em.” He said.

  “You alright?” Rayna asked me, as she watched Micah walking away.

  “I don’t know anymore Rayna. I can’t think about his childishness. I’ve got to focus on the council tonight and the hunt when we go out.”

  “You’re right. This is who we are Angel. We go out there, and we hunt.”

  “I used to be so sure of who I was and what my purpose was in life, and now I’m really second guessing everything Rayna. Everything.”

  “You always wanted to get out there and kill those who killed your mother. You wanted to protect your people from harm. You went out there and you did what you had to do. You were out for blood and you wouldn’t have any less than that.”

  “Yea, you’re right. That’s what it was like. Then. Now…I just don’t know.”

  “But we still have to go out there Angel. Our people are here in this village, and those murders are taking place only miles away. We’re going out there and kicking some ass.” She smiled at me.

  Rayna was my crutch. She has been in my life for so long now. She is also my second in command. If anything were to ever happen to me it would be her that would take charge.

  What other choice do I have. For now. Just for now I have to keep my secrets. I have to keep it all inside my head. As much as I want to be honest with Rayna right now and tell her everything, I know I just can’t do that. I would be in a whole heap of trouble with my people if they were to find out. I might even be exiled if it were known that I had even spoke to a Vampyre who was beyond their own border. After protecting them for so long and being here under their acceptance and protection, I owed it to them to keep my mouth shut right now.

  Angel.

  6.

  The Council and the Sacred Fires.

  Present Time.

  In the beginning for our people, there was no fire at all. The world was cold, and it was dark. Then the thunders, who lived up in the sky sent down their lightning and they put the fires into the bottom of a hallowed out Sycamore tree that had grown on an island, surrounded by water and separate from the main land.

  The animals of the Great Spirit knew the fire was there. They could smell the smoke, but they could not get to it because of the water that was between them.

  The animals had gathered as a council to see what it was that they should do. Every single animal that could fly or swim wanted to get out there to check things out. The Raven, who was large, and strong was sent over there to the island first. He flew over to the Sycamore tree. The flames came up through the tree scorching his feathers, and he returned to the others without fire.

  The next animal that the council sent over was the Screech Owl. Once he had gone over to the island, a strong blast of hot air came up and burned out his eyes. He did manage to fly back home. To this day, his eyes are still red. Then the Hooting Owl and the Horned Owl went. When they had arrived there, the fire was burning so fiercely that the smoke that had come from the fire was blinding, and it was hard for them to see in front of them. The ashes, carried up by the wind, had made white rings around their eyes.

  After that, there were no more birds that would volunteer to go over. The Snake, known as Black Racer, said that he would swim over there. He would bring the fire back. He swam his way over to the island and crawled through the grass, leading to the trees. He saw a small hole at the bottom of the tree, and slithered down it. There was too much heat. He could not bear it. It was too much for him. After dodging all the heat and slitherin
g boldly over the hot ashes, he was almost on fire himself. He managed his way out, though his body had been scorched to blackness.

  He came back and the next snake, the great black snake, The Climber, had offered to go next. He swam his way over to the island and climbed the tree from the outside, but when he put his head down into the hole at the top, the smoke had choked him so that he had fallen into the burning stump. When he had climbed out again, he too was black like the Black Racer.

  After all of this, another council was held. The animals had excuses for not wanting to go over there to the island to fetch the fire. They were all afraid to go out there. At last the Water Spider said she would go over to the island to fetch the fire. She was a beautiful black spider with downy hair and red stripes on her body. She knows how to run on top of the water and dive to the bottom. She would not have trouble at all reaching the island. Her question was, how could someone as small as she, bring the fire back? “I’ll manage.” She had said. She spun herself a thread from her body and wove it into a bowl, fastening it to her back.

  She crossed the great water over to the island and through the grass that lead to the Sycamore tree. Where the fire was still burning, she placed one small coal of the fire into her bowl. She came back from the island with the fire. Ever since, we have had fire. The small water spider, who made the great journey, still keeps her bowl; and shows us, that no matter how small you are, you care capable of anything.

  The council members were all arriving now. The whole village was now starting to gather round. The Six had finally finished making the fire for tonight’s council meeting. As the Chief’s daughter, it was my job to greet all of the Elders and help them to be seated in their rightful spots, by the fire.

  None of the Elders shifted into our watchful spirit anymore; the Wolf. It has been years since they last have. They’re hundreds of years old, like my father. They stopped shifting, but still had the magick running through them, so they may age a little, for the sake of our people, and to keep looking somewhat normal for the humans. Usually when it was time for passing, a small ritual would be held to release our wolf spirit to the spirit world, then we pass on.