Fate of the Blood Moon's Path

by Tiffany Potter

  “Angel…” Lazarus spoke.

  I stopped and turned, “I don’t want your help. I came here in hopes for answers. Instead you give me bullshit. You’re a great actor Lazarus. I’ll be on my way. You keep your pets at bay, and I will do the same.”

  “Just watch yourself.” Lazarus said and turned to walk down the dark hall.

  “Is that a threat?” I yelled. “Is that supposed to be a threat?” I watched him and Akuma walk away.

  Draven came over to hold me back. “Angel, what are you doing?” He was gripping tightly to my arm. “Are you freaking crazy? Why did you come here?”

  “My father is dead Draven. My people, under threat and random humans are being killed.”

  “You are not the one in charge there Angel. Don’t take matters into your own hands.”

  I pulled my arm from his grip. “Out of everyone, I at least thought you would be the one to understand.”

  “I do understand. Angel. Please. Look,” He looked around, “I’ll come to you or get information to you somehow when I can find out more about what is going on. But now, please, while they are letting you leave here unharmed, just go! Go home and stay alive. Please.” He was practically begging me. He had this intense look in his eyes that frightened me.

  “Fine.” I scowled. “If I don’t hear from you by the end of the week, all matters are going into my hands.”

  “A lot can happen in one week.” He said. “Now, you should really leave. I’ll take the blame and punishment for tonight.” He walked me to the door.

  “Punishment?”

  “I’m one of many servants Angel, I can’t expect to get away with things no matter how high on the food chain I am.”

  “But I thought…”

  “Don’t think Angel. Just go home. Your friends are out there searching for you.” I looked at him in confusion. “Go Angel.”

  The front gates opened up and let me out. All the same Vampyres were still on watch, watching me leave.

  It had finally stopped raining outside and the ground was all mud squishing between my toes of my bare feet.

  I heard howling. I ran towards it.

  James.

  26.

  Should I Let You Fall?

  Present Time.

  “It’s my fault she’s gone.” I looked back into the forest.

  “James, how can you say that?” Tobey asked.

  “Unless you killed her father.” Joe suggested.

  “That’s not even funny. Why would I do something that stupid?” I spat.

  “That stupid.” They mocked.

  “Enough! We have to find her.”

  “Couldn’t agree more.” Rayna’s voice came out of the darkness.

  “Anything?” Micah asked looking to each of us. We all shook our heads.

  “Who are they?” I spat my question almost launching myself forward in anger.

  Scarlet jumped in front of them almost crouching into a battling stance. “Friends.” She said.

  I’d heard about these “friends”. I knew the one who stood back the farthest was Kane. The one who had almost tamed Angel’s wild heart. Almost. But she had left him standing there in England to come back home to be with her people. Her people. Not him. She chose us. Not him. Where her destiny would be and her soul mate.

  “We should stand under the trees.” Rayna said as it started to down pour again. I stood eyeing Kane. He stood confidently with his dark eyes looking back at me. I didn’t like the looks of him. Perhaps it was my jealousy talking, and I’m sure it showed.

  “James?” Micah was in front of me.

  “Coming.” I said focusing myself to jog forward to meet up with the others.

  “What happened out there after we left?” Kent asked.

  “Nothing.” Rayna was lying. I could tell. She had that look in her eye like she was trying to keep a secret to protect something or someone.

  “What the hell are you all doing out here?” Angel’s voice pulled us all out of our little worlds and brought our attention to the shore past the tree lines.

  “Angel.” Rayna voice was so loud, glad and almost cheerful.

  “Seriously!” Angel’s voice wasn’t cheerful. “You all couldn’t have trusted me?”

  “Angel, we were all just worried” Scarlet said. “When I woke up you weren’t there…again. It kind of freaked me out.”

  “Leave the worrying to me.” Angel said back. What a bitch. Was all I could think of. “And for once everyone just trust me.”

  “Angel…” His voice came from the back of our gathered group. Kane.

  “Kane?” Her eyes lit up, and her voice all of a sudden had life to it again. Who the hell does this guy think he is?

  She ran to him, jumping into his arms and burying her face into his neck. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came to see you.” He kissed her cheek, then looked up at me.

  “Who the hell do you think you are?” I lost it! I could feel myself wanting to change right then and there and rip his lips off of his face so he would never be able to kiss her again. If it hadn’t been for Micah stepping in front of me and holding me back, I would have. “You can’t just come here and …”

  “Enough James!” Angel screamed startling the others. “There isn’t time for your petty bullshit games and ignorance.” I was taken aback, but my eyes never left Kane. My insides were on fire and in pain. Change. Change. Change. That’s all I wanted to do. Behave James…

  “Let go of me.”

  “Only if you promise to behave.”

  “Let him go.” Kane said stepping forward. This guy is an idiot. I can tear him into shreds.

  Angel.

  27.

  What to say…

  Present Time.

  “No.” I stepped towards James. “You’re ridiculous. You know that? Absolutely insanely jealous!”

  “Where’d you go Angel?” Rayna stepped in changing the subject. She grabbed my wrist, lightly, but my gaze was still on James.

  “To the Vampyres.” I said.

  I heard all of them catch their breath. I sensed disappointment, anger and confusion from them. They were all frustrated with me, there is no doubt in that. The past few months for me, and for them, have been difficult. And I have made it even more difficult for them. They have all been very patient with me, but none of them really fully understood or want to understand what is going on inside my head. It is a scary place in there. I don’t blame them for staying out of there.

  “Why?” Rayna asked as calmly as she could.

  “I needed answers.” I finally turned towards her and looked her in the eyes.

  Her eyes were sad. I gave her a tiny smile, and grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze.

  “And did you get any?” Kane asked.

  “What I got was more cryptic riddles and a meeting with the King of the Vampyres.”

  “What?” They all said in unison.

  “What are you doing?” I asked Scarlet. She was looking very closely at my skin and sniffing.

  “Checking for bites.”

  “They didn’t bite me, stop it.” I hit her away as playfully as I could without looking irritated with her actions.

  “Then how did you get out of there?” Joe asked. The rest of them nodding their heads in agreement.

  “They let me in. And they let me out.” I started walking towards the village. They were all right behind me.

  “Kane!” I turned around fast remembering James was back there with him. He came jogging up towards me, while James growled slightly with a menacing smile on his face. I read his mind, “Little puppy dog.”

  “Angel, you’ve got to give us more then that.” Scarlet was now at my side asking questions.

  “Look,” I stopped and turned sideways to look at them all. “Once I figure out what the hell is going on, I will gladly tell you all.” I tried to smile but it came out poorly.

  “You’re keepi
ng things from us on purpose.” Chris said.

  “I’m not. How can I keep things a secret when I don’t know what it is…” I mocked Lazarus.

  “What did you do join them when you were over there? Swear a blood oath or something? Promise to deliver your people?” James was now getting carried away with this.

  “Kane. Go back to the house with Scarlet and Aden. Tomorrow we will all talk. I’ve got something to do right now.” I ignored James the best I could.

  “If it involves leaving the village, take someone with you.” Rayna threw in her sense of humor.

  “It doesn’t.” I walked over to James and looked up at him, “James, when there is something to tell I will tell. And whatever happened there is my business. Not yours. Stop asking questions and stop hassling me. Your constant need to be in everyone’s business and the need to be the center of attention will get you nowhere.”

  I turned quickly and started in a run towards Huyanna. And as I expected, she was outside of her hut waiting for me.

  “We need to talk.” I said.

  “We do.” She nodded. “First answer me this. Are you crazy? Going down there to hungry lions cage?”

  I smiled. “Kind of.”

  “Angel. Your father knew that you would be like this.”

  “He knew he was going to die, didn’t he?”

  “We’re all going to die.”

  “Stop that!” I rolled my eyes.

  “Yes. He did. He’d foreseen it.” She sensed my annoyance.

  “Did he not want to live?” I asked.

  “His death was a great sacrifice my child. His death and your mothers meant you could go on living. To finish what was started millions of years ago.” She paused looking out at the moon over the lake and its reflection, now that the skies had cleared up.

  But I interrupted before she could finish. “What was started?” I had to ask.

  “The great battle.” She now looked at me.

  “The great battle?” I questioned.

  “It’s been going on for centuries. Good versus evil. Dark versus light.”

  “And it’s supposed to be me ending it?” I laughed. “Wait, Lazarus said it was my fault. That I’m to blame.”

  “Oh? You spoke to your grandfather? Civilly?”

  “Yes. Sort of.”

  “You’re well, part of the reason. It’s time you hear just a bit of the truth. And don’t you argue with me.”

  “Fine.” I gave in.

  “But you should get some rest Angel.”

  “No. I’m fine. I’ve been sleeping non stop the past few months.”

  “Tomorrow night. I will tell you, alright? Please. It’s nearly morning now. We both need some rest.”

  “Alright. Do you promise?” I asked.

  “I promise.” She said looking me in the eyes. She meant what she said.

  I walked away back towards my house slowly, not wanting to face what was there.

  “Kane.” I said. He was sitting on my front porch steps. “I still don’t understand why you are here.”

  “Because it has been hundreds of years and I can’t get you out of my head. And I had business in the area, I was told I could find you here.”

  “Yes. It has been hundreds of years…you should have just forgotten about me by now.” I said. I was just frustrated and being flat out mean.

  “You’re not one I can easily forget. You’ve kind of stuck with me. And my work has kept me busy.”

  “Of course it has.” I tried to sound understanding.

  “Angel, don’t be like that.” He sighed. “Not one day has gone by where I haven’t thought about you. And since you left, I was with a few others, and only thought of you.”

  “Those poor girls.” I joked. He didn’t smile. I sat down next to him, bringing my knees to my chest hugging them. “I am glad that you’re here though.” I looked over at him.

  “Me too.” He smiled. I have always loved his smile. I have always loved everything about him. “Angel…” He turned and looked at me, his voice heavy and his chest rising and falling fast.

  “I hate to ruin this moment.” Aden burst through the front screened door.

  “I said to leave them alone and let them talk.” Scarlet followed him.

  “I’ve never met this Angel…I’m Aden.” He looked at me and stuck his hand out for a quick shake.

  Aden was very tall and very muscular. What some might call a pretty boy. He had bright colored eyes of hazel and blue. His hair a dirty blonde and long and shaggy looking. He looked like a normal guy, but wasn’t. He was a pure Werewolf, through and through. One hundred percent. And a powerful one.

  “May I ask how you two met?” I asked them.

  “It was 1650.” Scarlet said.

  “Has it been that long?” Aden laughed. “Damn. I’ve been stuck with you for that long?” She slapped his arm.

  They were standing up against the post of the porch that was holding the roof up. He had her in front of him with his arm around her. Kane was now sitting on the railing, and I on the front porch swing.

  “Quinn, Kane and I went for a run to London. Of course this was now, after all the practice Quinn made me do, with running.” She laughed. Because her and I both knew how she was then. “Kane and his friends met up with Samuel…which is Aden’s older brother. We stopped in at a pub for a bite and some drinks, we took one look at each other and that was that. And we have been together ever since.”

  “How romantic.” I sighed like a young person in love.

  “Are you as great as the rest of the world thinks you are Angel? A strong hybrid that can’t be touched or tamed?” Aden asked me seriously and jokingly.

  Scarlet looked up at him while smacking his arm again, “Don’t talk like that to her. I told you to behave yourself.”

  “It’s ok.” I smiled. “I used to think so.”

  “Meaning?” Scarlet asked. Her eyes had surprise in them.

  “I’m not what I used to be. I’m a completely different person than I used to be.”

  ‘You mean you’re not a controlling bitch anymore?” Aden asked suggestively.

  “Stop.” Scarlet warned. We all ignored that comment that he made. Even though it was true. I was a controlling bitch then; I still am sometimes.

  “Is that a bad thing?” Kane asked.

  “Yes and no.” I responded. The sun was starting to come up now. We had been up all night. Rayna and Micah had gone back home to sleep, and so did the Six.

  “You know, we traveled a long way here.” Aden said.

  “Use the guest bedroom.” I said laying my head down atop my knees.

  “The one across from your room?” Scarlet asked.

  “Yes.” I had shut my father’s room off to the rest of the world and myself. Locked the door and sealed it. No one in.

  “Off we go.” Aden said, picking Scarlet up over his shoulder slapping her ass as they went. She squealed.

  “Well then,” I laughed. “Great guy. Real interesting.” I was being sarcastic.

  “He’s a good guy.” Kane laughed getting up and walking over to sit next to me.

  “I didn’t know you had friends.” I joked.

  “You didn’t ask the right questions.” He laughed, knowing that is what I had said to him all those years ago. “It comes with the job…getting to know everyone.”

  “And did you play peace keeper with his clan?”

  “Actually yes, I did. His family was fighting with another Werewolf clan. All over a territory feud. A lot of them ended up dying, and some of them just ended up disappearing.” He sighed. “It’s a messy business, this peace keeping. But someone has to do it.”

  “I don’t doubt it.”

  My knees were still at my chest. He grabbed my arms after standing in front of me, pulling me to my feet. He was so much taller than me.

  “I have loved you for a thousand years Angel.” He smiled. “Ever since I saw you r
ide into Edinburgh, it was love at first sight.”

  “You’re an animal.” I laughed. This was the first time a true laugh had escaped me in a long time.

  “Sometimes.” He, too, laughed. We kissed.

  “I forgot what it was like to kiss you.” I said, wanting more.

  “Well, after having a sloppy kisser like James, I bet you’re thanking the Gods that I’m back.” He sighed rubbing my cheek with his fingertips. “Your lips have haunted me too by the way. “

  “Good to know.” I blushed. I had to ignore the James comment he said. James wasn’t all that bad, he was your typical wolf--controlling, powerful, and over protective.

  Draven.

  28.

  I’ll Bleed for You.

  Present Time.

  “It’s a good thing you came back in here and didn’t leave with her.” Akuma’s whisper entered my ear.

  “Yes.” I sighed.

  “Draven my boy, please come here.” Lazarus’ voice rang out to me. I saw him there standing over by the large open windows. I stepped closer to him. I too looked out the window seeing Angel’s retreating figure head back towards her village.

  “Yes?” I asked hesitantly.

  “There is much to discuss Draven.” He ran his hand over his eyes as if he were getting tired.

  “My lord?” Akuma asked him.

  “I am fine. It was just a long journey.” He turned towards us with a sort of crooked smile plastered on his face.

  “You are sure?” He asked.

  He smiled an actual warm smile this time. “You worry too much Akuma.”

  “It’s a bad habit. I do tend to worry about my King.” He bowed his head.

  “Yes, well, we have a lot to talk about. As you two are my successors, you would be in charge if anything happened to me. There are events that will be coming up in the near future that could jeopardize any, and, all species.”

  “Such as?” I finally found my voice.

  “In time my boy.” Lazarus laid his hand on my shoulder. “First thing’s first.” He dropped his hand and leaned against the window sill. He motioned to the door. Two Vampyres, very muscular, entered. “I’m not pleased with your duties Draven.” He turned his head.