MoonNight

by Thacker, Renee

  Carson shifted back into his human form, our eyes locked. He stroked my face. Then grabbing my hand and raising it into the air he yelled, “We have orders for a retreat! Go in peace until another day!”

  Immediately everyone growled and leaped back. The vampires did so reluctantly. Carson took my hand and led me off with the werewolves. I looked back one more time. And the pain held in those eyes was unbelievable. Galen was standing there. I looked back from those blonde hair and blue eyes and studied Carsons tattoo. Everything felt so confusing and painful. So this is what it feels like. This is what I was warned against. And this is what I had gotten myself into.

  Chapter 11

  “I love you,” Carson kissed my forehead. “I don’t care what you are, where you come from but the future is now.”

  “I love you too. More than you know. Sometimes I think I really don't deserve you but here we are. So I guess it was meant to be.”

  “Yeah,” he agreed. “And I plan to have a normal week with you.”

  There were about forty five werewolves. In their human forms I studied all their beautiful, intricate, and now meaningful tattoos. All the green eyes were so welcoming it was unbelievable. My alabaster skin really shown out against the dark tan.

  Loren, being the most enthusiastic, was the first to hug me. Dimitri, Jeremy, and Regan gave me a little squeeze and pat on the back. The others nodded in respect. Carson’s mom gave me a kiss on the cheek and i felt something wrap around my wrist. It was a mirror image of the bracelet Carson had given me, it contrasted beautifully with the silver one from Galen. I looked into her eyes and mumbled a quick thanks.

  Why were these people praising me for what I had just done?

  “How did you guys in?” I asked.

  Regan was the first to answer. “We are in England. Just a very rural area. It is solar powered so it’s off the grid. There's no ‘magical barrier’ or anything. The big ben tower is just a convenience factor.

  “So we run.” Jeremy finished.

  Right now I was wishing I was a fairy. They could fly, well hover, wingless.

  “Okay,” I said.

  They all shifted into various size and colors of wolves. Since it wasn’t the moon they could actually control themselves. I always thought it was interesting how their clothes just melted in.

  In the thick dense forest I still perfectly swung through all the trees. The werewolves would burst through branches and everything gnashing their teeth viciously.

  Suddenly we came into completely open snow plain. I stopped feeling the heavy burn I felt. The werewolves going so fast behind me had no time to stop and I was thrown to the ground with the last of them trying to leap over my crumpled body. I watched a wound heal right then and there on my hand. The blood just dissipated then dried. The same process thousands of times faster.

  “Snow,” Carson kneeled down beside me. “It won’t kill you but it will drain you of all your energy. So when you were running and suddenly got drained you were forced to immediately stop.” I grabbed his hand, brushing off my shirt as I stood up.

  “Get on my back,” he told me shifting back into a wolf.

  I clung onto his back with not much strength. Immediately he took off also taking my breath away. In seconds we were again in front of the massive pack. I buried my face in the thick fur and just waited it out. It was about two hours of effortless running before we came upon a small town and they all shifted back into their human forms.

  When I looked back I was perplexed.

  “How did you guys all get over here?” I asked.

  “The boat from Alaska to France, then we ran.” Dimitri patted my back as I stood there blankly. “And that’s where we return hun.”

  Carson grabbed my hand and swung his black jacket around me and his arm around my waist. And then he turned me to face him, and nodded for the others to keep going through the town in which we were getting odd stares.

  He led me running behind a cinema. He roughly pushed me up against the wall bracing his arms on either side of me.

  “What the hell-” I started.

  But then his mouth pressed forcefully against mine and my hands found his chest.

  “I never felt such a need,” he whispered breathlessly through all the kisses.

  He let go of me then held my face. And will i ever forget the first and only time I had ever seen tears from those jagged green eyes? This made me well up. And there was nothing to say besides stand there and bite my lip.

  “We’re going to save them. The Riccolis. Just give me time. Please Leslie babe.”

  “Yeah,” I nodded and burst into tears. I slid my body down the rough brick wall just for one moment of peace. Carson kneeled down in front of me and whispered that we had to go.

  We ran once again. Not as fast or the town would be way too suspicious. Carson went off and talked to some people he knew and I was accompanied by Loren.

  “Hi Leslie.” She smiled swooping her red hair behind her.

  “Hey Loren.” I replied.

  “Nice to have some peace and quiet again,” she said as we were running at sixty miles an hour both in our human forms.

  “Yeah,” I said. And gave a little laugh.

  We were almost to France as it had been three hours with our extremely speedy travel. The ferries waited in the distance. We slowed down to normal speed now that we were beginning to merge with people.

  The shimmery sea looked like it should have been a nice beach to have a summer at. but it was cold. Really cold. Vampires liking the cold? Myth. Werewolves liking the cold? Truth.

  All fifty of us waited in the long line until finally one of the ferries were available. Carson reconvened with me and grabbed my hand.

  “How long does the ride take?” I asked getting really fidgety.

  “Half an hour,” he answered.

  “Are there sharks?” I asked.

  “We’ll be safe,” he said.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Are you scared of the water Les?”

  “Yes,” I admitted.

  “Why?” he wondered

  “When I was little I had a twin sister. She went to the beach and swam out pretty far. Her hair was black which really stood out between the colors of the water. I remember making a castle on the sand. When I looked out at her all I saw was a flash and she was yanked invisibly down under. I’ve never been to a beach since.”

  He pierced me with those green eyes and unique tattoo and said, “I will always keep you safe. No matter what, even if it costs my life. I promise love.” and he gave me one of those little kisses on my cheek.

  I was scared, deathly scared of water. Even if it was an indoor swimming pool. That night I wandered along the shores edge at the beach in Alaska I was insane, still frightened.

  It rocked and wasn’t smooth. Sitting on Carsons lap was a little more comforting.

  “Carson I hate myself.” I told him.

  “Why babe you’re perfect and beautiful. And always will be right there in my eyes.” His arms squeezed tighter around my stomach.

  “You don’t know what I did, do you? You know what? I got Rosa killed! Put the Riccolis in life or death situations multiple times. My parents are in grave danger. President Alijondra is forcing me to be a spy for her. Sondra had a knife to her throat and the last thing I heard was a scream. There are sooo many people I need to protect right now. Yet I can’t. And they still want to help me. You still want to help me. But why? I don’t understand.”

  “Leslie. Its the saying ‘once together, always together’. Family sticks together and no matter what they did to each other or the pain they went through for one another, in the end they are all bonded together. And that’s what has happened to us. Everyone you have met so far. So what it’s not counted by the two and a half months we’ve been together. It’s how much we’ve been through.”

  I stared at my feet cautiously. “And Galen,” I whispered touching the leather bracelet on my wrist. “What happens to him now
?”

  “I don’t know what happens;” We just need to get everyone else safe including a trip to Cali for your parents.”

  “Yes, let’s take this one step at a time and we need to put our priorities in order.”

  The ship was rocking very sickening. Soon it reached the beach if Alaska where they were hauling, transporting, a busy industry are.

  The stares we got from every single person. Huge group of teenagers and adults with the same green eyes, tattoos, and colored skin would be mind blowing. Fortunately this part of Alaska did not have camera crews walking around. This was about thirty miles from Cordova where we were actually not heading back. Straight to the airport. Luckily they had called in to get cars for just the few of us going to save my parents and everyone else I put in immediate danger.

  And there it was. The familiar red convertible with the west coast sign on it.

  “Come on guys lets hurry!” Ragen said. Carson started walking forward, as with the others. And arms wrapped around my neck. I let out an ear splitting shriek.

  “Leslie!” The voices from the convertible yelled.

  “Shhh,” the voice hushed me and the arms untightened. “It’s me Galen.”

  “Galen.” I turned around and hugged him in relief. “You’re alive.”

  “You’re alive,” he said back to me. “I just needed to see you one more time. Follow me.” He grabbed my hand trying to lead me away but I yanked it back.

  “No I have to go. Please just let me talk to you later.” I could already feel Carsons ‘just for Galen’ stare bearing in behind us.

  “Leslie this might be the last time I see you for a long time.” I hesitated, and then reluctantly followed him behind the rest house. I thought he was going to give me one of those unexpected kisses where his blonde hair falls into my face. All he said was, “Stay safe. I need you.” Then leaned back.

  I didn’t even know what to say. And then he led me back out into the open. And brought me into one of those huge big brother hugs. His knuckles ruffled my head.

  “Ouch,” I said.

  He just laughed and walked away. I winked and smiled back hoping for the best of him to come. He was like a big brother to me. I loved him, with all my heart, in a different way than Carson Lund though. Galen disappeared somewhere into the heavy fog in which eyes as powerful as mine could see. It made me realize that we were the same species, Carson and I were not. Everyone still stood by me. And everyone still filled my heart.

  I turned around back to face my friends sitting in the car. My body snuggled perfectly between Carson and Jeremy in the back seat. The silence I knew was affected from the visit Galen had given me.

  “What will they do to my parent?” I asked.

  “What creatures of this darkness do for revenge. Kill them.” Carson swung an arm around me and kissed the top of my head before whispering, “But don’t worry we’ll save them first.”

  Of all the things that happened I really doubted it. My parents were definitely an easy target. Well known in the state, anyone would know who they were. Biggest lawyer and doctor. The house was simple to get in. Obviously they were not expecting vampire, fairy, and the werewolf protectors to break in. The doors were never locked, and there wasn’t a single weapon in the house besides the kitchen knives. And right now I was really frightened. My mother was the biggest supporter in my life. Up until two months ago she spent every second she could with me. Going to the beach, shopping, or since I was little. Bringing me to dance lessons until we learned what a disaster that was.

  Three threats were in the way. Fairies were hunting my parents. Vampires were keeping track of me. The werewolf protectors were in for the kill.

  Cool hair from the convertible waved through my extremely tangled hair. I could barely recognize myself in the rear view mirror. Before I came I had color in my cheeks, more gold in my hair, bright eyes. Now my face was sunken, pale, dark hair, bite mark scars on my neck.

  We stopped at Starbucks on the way. Being a vampire it was still normal to drink coffee. I sat down at a table set for only two with lattes.

  “So.” Carson said.

  I put my lips to my straw and took a sip. “So.” I said. Just because it was so tempting I reached my hand up and stroked his tattoo. “Are you guys born with that?” I asked.

  “If you are a werewolf then it fades in, like a birthmark would fade out. If you were born a werewolf it’s something you're born with. If you were bitten then that’s when It fades in. Turning into a creature is like a dog becoming a cat. And it’s an unnatural time consuming process.”

  “Huh,” I shrugged thinking. “Do any of you guys have abnormal powers such as mind reading?”

  “No,” he replied. “Some of us have stronger sense than the others. For example Jeremy, Regan, Loren, Dimitri, and I are the top five because we can sense things coming. I can sense all living things behind me; it’s like an energy flow. The way you were created by two bites and ending up as vampire made you the most powerful. That is why President Alijondra wants revenge. She’s scared that you will take over. There isn’t a vote for her position. It’s all in the power.”

  “And she knows I’ll save my parents no matter what and is bringing me into that trap.”

  “Exactly,” Carson told me. “But we have it planned. I can sense a good outcome.”

  “What about the werewolf protectors?” I wondered.

  “They followed you to the tower but couldn’t get through. We followed there trail and that’s how we knew they were in there.”

  “Carson?” I asked.

  “Yes Leslie?”

  “Will you believe me when I say I’ll never try anything on my own again?”

  Carson looked down for a second. Then looking back up he said, “Trust is not something you have to ask from someone. It is something you have to prove to someone.”

  “Okay,” I said pursing my lips.

  He reached across the table and held both my hands. We got the same reaction from the waiter as from anyone else. Why all these teenagers looked the same with the green eyes, tattoos, tan skin, and then me. Pale faced looking freak. We all got up and left leaving our cups.

  I again squished in between Carson and Regan. Jeremy drove at about a hundred some odd miles per hour. Of course on these empty highways no one would be suspicious. It felt good to have windblown at me without having to move my own legs.

  Jeremy took his hands off the wheel, stood up and started whooping. It scared me. And then I realized. The rest stood up too and did the same. It was really odd to see a shiny red convertible filled with six teenagers on an empty road, with dark of the night slowly seeping in. But these creatures of the dark could lighten it up.

  “Come on Leslie!” Loren shouted.

  I stared blankly at Carson then stood up. I almost lost my balance but Carson caught me. And did one of those unexpected things again. Jumped out of the car. Holding me in almost a death grip. And he flew down the highway. His green eyes were like headlights. His tan skin like a painted car. And his tattoo like a bumper sticker.

  “In my eyes you couldn’t get any more perfect,” he kissed my neck, the little wetness of his lips drying in a second by the rush of the wind.

  “Explain your love to me,” he said, flat out.

  “You’re not my first love,” I told him. “This isn’t about having a first love; it’s about having an only love.”

  “I’ve loved many women in my time. They have all come. And all past. But the ones, who love you the most, will stay with you forever. Even though I hate myself every day to allow you to be what you are. I thank you for allowing yourself to be who you are.” His body sped up, faster and faster. Until the world was a spiraling blur. And then launched himself forward, landing in a crouch position on the hood of the car. I found it interesting that even though I had the same power level as Carson, he still treated me as if I were human. Or a fragile fairy.

  The rest of the ride he had me tucked underneath his arm. The t
hree boys were lying on the trunk of the car in their wolf forms up until we got into the city. The airport was half an hour away now that we had to drive at a normal speed. The hood on the car had rolled up. Or else we would be the only ones in short sleeves and an open car. My lust for blood was no longer as strong as it had been when I first transformed. But right now I needed something anything.

  We finally arrived at the airport and threw all of our black hoodies on. Lorens tattoo looked as if it were shimmering in the cold sunlight. When I touched it, it burned me.

  “Ow what the-!” I jumped back.

  “It’s the day of the moon,” they all said at once. I touched each of theirs in turn and they all burned me.

  “Leslie we are going to run, far away from any people in possible danger,” Carson placed his hands on either side of my face. “I want you to stay safe. Rent a hotel, anything. Hide your scent. We have no idea where the werewolf protectors could be. Or president Alijondra, her fairy and vampire hunters. Do this for me. If we have not found you by morning tomorrow go to the airport without us and we will catch up on the next flight”

  “Carson,” I said looking over his face. “I’m always safe.”

  He was about to lean down and kiss me, but something made him change his mind and he didn’t. He pulled back, turned around, threw his hood on, and walked away with the others. The last thing I saw was the thick transition of wolves leaping into the dense forest. My mind wasn’t focusing but pretty soon it came clear and a voice kept on repeating, “Ma’am, ma’am.” And then a light touch.

  This almost scared the living daylights out of me. I gently pushed him but he flew and landed on top of the nearest car. That reminded me of the day I was human and getting chased by the wolves. And I realized I was standing in the middle of a parking lot, blocking the way.

  “I’m so sorry sir,” I went rushing to his aid. Picking this huge man up I set him in his car before no one could see and acted natural. Of course ignoring the shock on his face.