Blood Cursed

by H. L. Graham

  Gaven considered my suggestion and leaned toward asking Rebecca, who needed a job and Gaven trusted. He decided to put off any further decisions or discussions until after Saturday’s ceremony and challenge. He wanted to make sure I was still alive and he couldn’t make any plans until he knew I was safe. I couldn’t blame him. I wanted to make sure I was safe too.

  I found Rebecca pouring over the manuals at the dining room table. She was still in her pajamas. Blue pajama pants with yellow moons and stars that seemed to shimmer when she moved. It must be the glitter glued onto the fabric. A yellow t-shirt gently hugged her curves, but allowed enough movement to be comfortable. Her feet were bare except for her toes painted a deep forest green.

  “Nice toes,” I said as I sat across from her.

  “Thanks,” she said pushing the book toward me. “Take a look at this.”

  I looked at the picture in front of me. At first, it looked like the same picture she kept showing me from these annoying books. Then I saw it and smiled, “Do you think it will work?”

  “Yes, but we have to practice,” she answered. “We’ll also have to get Gaven to do a spell to increase our ability to pull this much energy.”

  Just then the phone rang, “I’ll get it.” I dashed for the phone.

  “Hello.”

  “Hi Honey, Hi Baby.”

  “Mom, Dad, how’s it going?” I asked still distracted by my conversation with Rebecca.

  “No problems here. How are you?” Dad asked.

  I sighed, “Well do you want the short or long version?”

  Mom piped in, “Whatever you feel like sharing honey. Dad and I have been a bit concerned. With the full moon coming in a few days, we wanted to know if you were ready?”

  “Yeah, I’m ready. Rebecca and I are working on some ideas for the ceremony and the challenge.”

  “Oh, so there will be a challenge? I hoped there wouldn’t be,” Dad remarked.

  “Well there’s a ceremony, so am I to assume you found the local pack?” Mom asked changing the subject.

  “Yeah, I found the local pack. Their leader and I are to be joined in some kind of co-Alpha ceremony. I don’t like him. He’s king of the jerks. Every conversation makes me angry and aggressive,” I explained.

  Mom laughed, “I bet Gaven’s relieved you’re arguing with someone else for a change.”

  “That’s what he said,” I pouted. “Am I really that big a trouble maker?”

  “Now Hannah, you’ve always been stubborn and argumentative. Anyway, we are not calling to analyze you,” Mom got right to business. She wasn’t much for sugar coating. She just gave it to me straight.

  “Dad found some information about wolf challenges and wanted to fill you in.”

  Dad began, “Hannah, have you and Gaven had a chance to talk about how he can be helpful to you?”

  They knew that too, it so figures. “If you are tip toeing around the Magique Aqua stuff, yeah I know all about it. I can’t believe you guys knew about that and again didn’t bother to fill me in.” My parents could be so frustrating.

  “Baby, it was none of our business. We promised Gaven we would keep it a secret so he could have a chance at a normal life. Life had other plans for both of you,” He stated.

  “Just one question. Is there anything else you haven’t bothered to tell me?”

  Mom answered, “Now honey, let’s not be snotty. You now know everything we know. Satisfied?”

  “No, but I guess I will have to live with it,” I answered. “So Dad, what were you saying?”

  “Right, thanks baby. I wanted to let you know Gaven can aid in your challenge if it happens. He has forgotten many spells and it will take years to relearn them. I have done some research and emailed him a spell I found which might be the perfect thing for you.” Dads tone had gone from caring dad to instructional professor.

  “Is it safe to email magical spells? What if it gets into the wrong hands?”

  “I sent it secure,” Dad replied.

  “Wow, go Dad. When did you learn how to use a computer?” I had to be a smart ass, just one good snotty kid remark. What? That’s my job as their kid!

  “Hannah, can you please focus?” Mom jumped in.

  “Okay fine. Gaven does the spell and I win the challenge?” My parents were actually helping. That was new. Their hippie beliefs usually kept them from ‘interfering in my problem-solving development.’ Maybe the fact that my life is on the line motivated them.

  “Not exactly. It will help if you have the focus to utilize it properly,” he explained. “Actually, maybe I should explain it to Gaven and then the two of you can work out the details.”

  So now my parents were ditching me for Gaven. Just great.

  “Honey, we love you and we know you’ll be great on Saturday,” Mom offered some support.

  “That’s right Baby, kick some werewolf ass,” added Dad.

  “Thanks guys, I’ll let Gaven know to call you when he gets home.” I heard them both say goodbye as I pulled the phone from my ear to hang up.

  Chapter 27

  I sat at the kitchen table attempting to enjoy a cup of coffee. My stomach felt better and my head ached from caffeine withdrawals. Almost immediately, the phone rang again. “Never any peace,” I mumbled. “Hello?”

  “Hey babe, I just had a great idea about a spell.” He was excited and his energy high. “So, don’t go anywhere. And tell Rebecca to be ready too. I’m coming to pick you guys up to go out on the boat. Be ready by 3 o’clock and bring something warm cause it gets chilly at night on the water.”

  “Uhh, okay.” I was too shocked to say anything else. Gaven was really getting into this Magique thing. He was also in an amazing mood. He had been a bit grumpy since I turned into a wolf. I guess grappling with his past secrets and my new secrets had put him into a contemplative mood. But now he had his Gaven energy back. He was excited and hopeful. I didn’t detect any fear from him. That was a relief.

  “It’s nice to hear you sounding so energized. You’re the old Gaven again. No wolf and Magique crap to bog you down,” I commented.

  “Yeah, I’ve been feeling pretty overwhelmed lately. But now my deep dark secret is out. It’s like I was obese, met Richard Simmons and lost a ton of weight,” he joked.

  “You’re speaking my language,” I laughed with him. “Oh, before I forget, my parents need to talk to you about something.”

  “Yup, already spoke to them.”

  “How, I literally just hung up with them like a minute before you called?”

  “I just needed a quick reminder from your father, our conversation was over before it started,” he explained.

  “Must be some weird guy communication, huh?” Even with my years of psychological training, men still perplexed me.

  “You got it. Can you guys be ready on time? Oh, I need you both to collect some of your fur from the doggie beds and put it all together into a plastic baggie. Can you do that for me, my love?” He really was in a great mood, he didn’t call me Love unless he was Happy! I was seeing a direct relationship between his use of magic and his mood. This could be a good thing because when Gaven was in a good mood he was creative and extra loving. I always enjoyed the extra attention.

  “Sure, do you need me to pee on a bush and bring that too?” I teased.

  “Nope, just the fur, oh, bring some Band-Aids too,” he said tentatively.

  “Why do we need Band-Aids?” I asked a bit concerned.

  “A drop of blood is necessary for the spell to stick. You heal super quick, so quit complaining, your Wolfmagisty.”

  “Wolfmagisty, I like it!”

  “Yeah I thought you might,” he joked.

  “Alright, alright. See you later,” I paused with emotion. “I love you Gaven, always have, and always will.”

  “I know, love you too. See you in a few.”

  At three o’clock sharp, Gaven beeped the horn and Rebecca and I flew out the door with collected wolf fur, Band-Aid’s, antibiotic c
ream, blankets and a snack. Rebecca brought one of Jacob’s books, just in case.

  It took us two hours to get to the boat, gas up and head 20 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. It was calm, the water flat and motionless. I suspected Gaven had something to do with the smooth ride and I certainly wasn’t complaining. The last time I accompanied him into deep water, I spent the trip hanging over the side offering the contents of my stomach to the ever-awaiting fish. Needless to say, that trip totally sucked the big one. I only boated when land was within swimming distance. I was happy Gaven was using his powers for good and keeping the waters calm.

  Gaven stopped the boat and surveyed the horizon for other boaters. He seemed satisfied we were all alone and turned off the motor.

  The sun began to set. The sky dressed in pinks and oranges reminded me of the citrus fruits growing in our neighborhood. The gulf was amazingly beautiful. The water reflected a bonfire of colors as the sun set beneath the horizon. Patches of clouds reflected an intensity of fire while it sank into the cold black water.

  I noticed a new level of silence. There were no birds chirping or fish jumping. Just emptiness. It felt eerie. I shivered, not from cold, but from the promise of untapped power.

  Gaven noticed my discomfort, “Don’t worry Hannah, I have everything under control.” He smiled at me encouragingly.

  Rebecca reached into the backpack and pulled out the fur, “Okay, shall we begin?”

  “Yes.” We stood in a small circle at the back of the boat. There was room behind the center console that housed the steering wheel and bench. Gaven dunked a bait bucket into the seawater, filling it halfway. He placed the bucket into the middle of the circle.

  “Rebecca.” He gestured toward the baggie of fur. She handed it over and he emptied it into the bucket.

  “Hannah, please give me your hand.” I tentatively held out my left hand toward Gaven and he quickly pulled out a very sharp knife and sliced my palm.

  “Oww!” I screeched, attempting to pull back my hand. Gaven held it fast, turning it to drip my blood into the bucket. After an excruciating minute and a bunch of blood loss, he released me. I examined the damage, but the flow had slowed. I dug into the backpack for the Band-Aid’s and discovered the rolled bandages Rebecca had packed.

  As I wrapped the bandage around my latest wound, Gaven cut Rebecca’s hand allowing her blood to mingle with mine. She of course was always the model student and didn’t flinch or acknowledge he had cut her. Show off, I thought.

  I passed her the rest of the roll of gauze. She quickly wrapped it around her hand and tucked it neatly in place. Just as I was about to complain about my hand again, I noticed the wind pick up around us. The boat was still and there were no waves, which seemed odd. Gaven had his hands lifted toward the sky making slow lazy circles. He alternated direction toward the water below us then to the sky above.

  The sun had completely set and the moon had risen. It was close to a full moon. I felt its power wash over me, warm and welcome. Gaven began chanting using a language I didn’t understand. The wind blew my hair into my eyes as I frantically attempted to pull it out of my face. Rebecca of course was standing facing the wind so her hair was blown back making her look regal. It totally figures, I mused.

  I finally was able to tie back my hair with a piece of string I found in my pocket. I refocused on the action in front of me. I felt the moon’s light wash over me in waves, each strengthening my connection to the moon’s power. I felt a new energy tapping me. It felt cold and empty. It pushed down on me. I gasped for air as the new power forced me to my knees. I looked up at Gaven and tried to yell for help, but his eyes were glowing an iridescent mixture of silver and blue. Rebecca was also on her knees. She kept both hands firmly on the edge of the bucket. She stared into it, eyes wide. Her expression blank.

  I started to think something had gone terribly wrong as I looked into the bucket along with Rebecca. Frozen, the water inside swirling in a miniature whirlpool. Grabbing the other side of the bucket, I felt the power residing inside. As the water stopped swirling, the stars reflected in its surface. They sparkled and twinkled at me for a second. I thought it was over, but then a flash of light soared down from the sky, reflected off the surface and into my eyes. It pushed me up onto my feet and backward toward the side of the boat.

  I teetered for a second after my legs hit the side. Then I toppled backward flipping into the water where I was engulfed by the sea. Gaven and Rebecca had not moved. Both were blinded by the flash of light. My body felt heavy as I slowly sank in to the depths. I struggled to swim upward, but continued to sink as if in quicksand. I held my breath while clamping my eyes shut. Too afraid to open my eyes to the darkness, I continued to sink.

  I was quickly running out of air when I felt someone grab my wrist and pull me upward. I kept my eyes clamped tightly as I felt my body glide through the water. Up and up I went until my face broke though the surface. I opened my mouth to gasp for air. My lungs burned with pleasure as the oxygen raced through my blood stream and filled my cells with life.

  I bobbed on the surface. Rebecca yelled at me to reach out for her hand. Gaven was repeating my name over and over. They managed to pull me into the boat and covered me with blankets and towels. Gaven was wet and shivering beside. He leaned over to look into my eyes. I saw a star twinkle. It faded slowly.

  “Wow,” I said. “That was totally fucked up.”

  Gaven and Rebecca both laughed with relief.

  “I almost lost you,” Gaven looked down at me.

  Rebecca added, “You just disappeared and sank like a rock. We didn’t even see you fall. Gaven jumped in after you. You were both gone for, well it felt like eternity, and then you just reappeared. And your eyes, Hannah, they were glowing bright white like the stars. It was intense.” She looked up at the stars. Lost in thought she caught herself. “Oh my god, do you want some water or something?”

  I started to laugh, “Don’t you think I’ve had enough?”

  Gaven kissed my forehead, “I’ll take that to mean you’re feeling better. Can you sit up?”

  I nodded and Gaven helped me to a seated position. “I think it worked,” he said.

  The air was calm again and there was only the moonlight. It was as if nothing had happened, except I was soaking wet.

  “I remember looking into the bucket and the water was swirling, then it stopped and a flash of light pushed me onto my feet. The next thing I knew I was sinking into the darkness,” I explained.

  “Well the part where you fell into the water was not part of the plan. That flash of light was the culmination of all the stars in the sky sending you their power.” He studied my eyes again, “Can you tap into that power and then release it? Do it slowly and gently,” he ordered.

  “I’ll try,” I said.

  I focused my chi and found two distinct power sources floating inside me. One I immediately recognized as the moon and the wolf. The other was old and cold. I reached toward it. It leapt at me, anxious to be seen and used. I heard Gaven gasp and Rebecca whispered, “Enough.”

  I looked at them and released the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

  “I guess you guys felt that?” I asked.

  “Oh yeah,” Gaven replied and Rebecca nodded vigorously.

  Gaven looked at me. His eyes serious. “The way this works is you can only release it once so don’t go there unless all else fails,” he warned me.

  Rebecca piped in, “We think.”

  “What do you mean, you think?” I got nervous again.

  “Well, there’s a small chance it’s permanent. Once you tap that power and release it,” she paused looked at Gaven then back at me. “The book Jacob gave me showed a wolf with the moon’s rays shining down and the stars were in the sky. All of the other pictures only showed the moon’s rays shining down. The drawing with the stars showed a wolf with white tips on its ears, that’s you. So, if I’m correct, the power will replenish itself and you will be more than ‘wolf of the moon’.
You will have more power than any other werewolf alive.”

  “Oh great,” I snipped.

  “Hannah, this much power can overwhelm, you must use it carefully. If you don’t direct if properly you could hurt a lot of people.” He shook his head, “I never thought it would be so much, I just wanted to give you an edge.”

  I reached out to touch his chin, forcing him to look at me, “Don’t worry! I was built to carry all this crap, so I’m sure I can handle it.”

  I smiled brightly, “Look how great I’ve done so far.”

  Gaven tried to laugh at my joke, but I only saw fear in his eyes. I worried he was disappearing again, but he quickly brightened, “You’re right, you are much stronger than I give you credit. The universe never gives us more than we can handle.”

  Rebecca agreed, “Why don’t we head home? We have another big night tomorrow.”

  Gaven started up the motor and steered us toward land. I watched the blackness of the water pass below the boat as we glided across its surface. I hoped Gaven was right about being able to handle all this. I’d encountered quite a bit of weirdness in the past few weeks. I really didn’t know how much more I could handle before I cracked. I wondered if they make werewolf strength Xanax. Probably not. Triple crap.

  Chapter 28

  Saturday afternoon arrived too quickly. Cop number one and cop number two had settled back into their cruiser after their hourly perimeter check. When they arrived earlier in the day, Rebecca had baked some cookies and delivered them to the guys as a thank you. She wanted to let them know when night fell, our door would be locked and not opened to anyone even the police. They greedily stuffed cookies in their mouths as they agreed to Rebecca’s plan. They advised her to keep some lights on at night to ward off prowlers. I got the feeling these guys were only here on orders and had no intention of getting their hands dirty unless they had too. They thought Leslie’s theory was crazy and felt this detail a waste of time.