Moon Tortured (Sky Brooks Series Book 1)

by McKenzie Hunter

  “He’s direct.”

  “That’s a polite way to put it.”

  While I ate, Steven paced the room, making idle small talk. I watched him suspiciously. “I’m not going to run again,” I stated, realizing he was on security detail.

  He smiled as he walked over to the window, pulled out a key and locked it. “Of course you won’t,” he stated with a smile.

  “Are you going to lock the doors, too?” I asked sarcastically.

  “No, you seem to have a thing for windows and there is no need to tempt you. By the way, I am your roommate while you stay here. I hope you don’t snore.” He grinned.

  “You are not sleeping in here.”

  “There’s a very angry man downstairs who would disagree with that.”

  “I’m not going to run again. I promise.”

  “And I believe you. Unfortunately, Sebastian doesn’t, and it is my understanding that if you leave again, he’s going to … ” He brought his finger from one side of his neck to the other making a garbled cutting noise. “Sebastian doesn’t trust you. But Joan likes you—a lot, and has adamantly appealed for your life, and Sebastian respects her opinion. Technically, when you ran this time, he was well within his rights to kill you without dishonor or violation of pack law. I’m the compromise because if you run again, he will kill you on principle alone, and nothing Joan does or says will stop him. I promised Joan I would do whatever was necessary to keep you alive,” he stated.

  I stared at Steven’s grave face. “Would he kill me?” I asked seriously. When angered, I had no doubt he would do so. But now, since everyone had calmed down, was he capable of doing such an act on principle alone?

  He nodded once. “Without hesitation. I’ve seen him do it and it is never pretty and it’s only quick and painless if he wants it to be. At some point, Sebastian will lose his patience with you. Believe me; you have pushed his mercy to the limits. Be considerate of that with your future acts,” he admitted gently. He was staring at me, urging his warning with all sincerity.

  Steven stayed while I finished off my dinner. We were playing chess when he was summoned by Sebastian. I assumed Sebastian had a change of heart and decided to trust me, although it wasn’t quite deserved.

  Once he left, I laid back and closed my eyes to welcome a much-needed sleep. The pain in my shoulder and hand felt tolerable and fatigue had taken over to such an extent that keeping my eyes open was a chore. When Steven walked into the room, my eyes could barely open to look at him. “You are freaking kidding me! Go away!”

  “That is no way to greet your roommate,” he stated with a grin.

  “This is ridiculous,” I spat out frustrated.

  “Then you should take a stand. March downstairs and tell Sebastian that you won’t tolerate this type of treatment. Give him a piece of your mind, using all your self-righteous anger. Go ahead. I’ll wait,” he urged with a sly smile as he took a seat in the corner.

  “You’re on the floor.”

  “Of course.” He turned his back to me and began to undress.

  I rolled my eyes and dropped back onto the bed. The rustling sound of him removing his clothes caught my attention. I turned to find him standing totally naked without an ounce of shame. Although there wasn’t a thing about his body that would warrant shame, a little modesty wouldn’t hurt. It was doubtful that there were many teenagers who would want to hide a physique like his. The wispy way he looked in clothing was deceptive. Steven was tall, lean and athletically built, with long striated muscles covering the greater part of his body. I am sure he’s had his share of mothers and daughters looking at him with prurient intent.

  I plopped back on the bed, covering my face with the covers before he could catch me looking.

  “Good night,” He changed into his animal form. Padding over to me, he licked my fingers. It was absolutely disgusting. It was his pleasantry while in coyote form, but I still didn’t care for it. I went to the bathroom to wash my hands. When I returned, the coyote was asleep against the door. Why lock the door when you can just put a big-ass coyote in front of it? I wasn’t going anywhere, even if I wanted to.

  The next morning, I awoke to Steven growling at the door to get out. The sun shone brightly through the blinds; it was nearly twelve. I slept longer than I had since I had been in the house. He growled a response as I let him out of the room. I am sure he had better things to do than guard me. The pain from yesterday’s encounter with Chase and Gabriella was substantially better, but it still made showering challenging. I moved slowly and gently under the running water, examining the mementos from yesterday’s attack. The wound on my shoulder and hand were healing well; I hoped there wouldn’t be scarring. The bruising on my neck was barely noticeable. But now there was a new, raised, rough mark, resembling the Gem of Levage, on the right side of my lower back.

  Dressing quickly, I went to the library, searching for Josh. Anytime he was in the house, the library was where he could usually be found. Surprisingly, he wasn’t there.

  “He left early this morning,” informed Ethan from behind me. “He believes Caleb had something to do with what happened to you last night. He was quite infuriated by his betrayal. I hope Caleb lives through the meeting,” he stated passively. His words sounded so insincere it was doubtful he cared.

  He watched me with interest once I turned around. His hair was wet and he smelled like soap and Winter. Ethan, even when relaxed, always made you feel like you were under the watchful eye of a predator. His soft blue eyes with the gray undertones sharpened when his wolf was awakened. They were not as vibrant as his brother’s, but managed to be just as alluring. “How are you feeling?” he asked casually, taking a step closer to me.

  “As good as to be expected,” I admitted. “How’s Winter?”

  He smiled, looking playful while doing so. I wasn’t sure what amused him more: the fact that I could smell Winter on him or that I acknowledged it.

  “She does her job so well I often forget how young she is. She can be quite emotional when provoked. She doesn’t like you,” he admitted simply. Really! What could possibly have given that away? Was it her rampage the other day as she advocated my murder? I think it’s safe to assume that when people lobby for your murder while expressing how truly wrong you are, you aren’t one of their favorites.

  “I had to talk to her last night. On rare occasions, I seem to be the only one capable of reasoning with her. She feels things quite deeply, whether it’s love or hate,” he acknowledged.

  So Ethan was the voice of reason between the two of them. That’s not a ringing endorsement of a person with good temperament.

  “I’ve been marked,” I blurted.

  He looked confused. I turned around and showed him my back. He knelt down, his fingers pressing into my skin as he examined the new marking. His thumb carefully ran across it, his fingers fanning out across my stomach. He took out his phone and pressed a button. The voicemail picked up. “Josh, come to the house when you’re done, I need you to look at something.” His fingers pressed into my abdomen as his thumb ran rhythmically along the marking. I took in a deep breath, trying to ignore how good his touch felt on my skin.

  CHAPTER 9

  When Josh walked into the bedroom, his eyes were dull and worn from fatigue and lack of sleep. He smiled, but it didn’t hold the same charm as it usually did. Things were starting to wear on him, and he wore the telltale signs like a badge.

  “Skylar,” Ethan cued me from behind him. When I lifted my shirt, Josh glanced. “She is bound to the gem. It will go away once the gem is destroyed,” he informed us in a flat voice. “It’s not a good idea to bind yourself to such things, Skylar.” Josh cautioned.

  “It wasn’t my intention … ,” I stated, eying the floor. “It called me,” I finally admitted after a moment of silence. I still remained cautious with information I relayed to them, aware that one were-animal considered me a threat to the pack. I didn’t want the others to begin to side with her.

 
“You held onto magic,” Josh stated, intrigued; his brow rose as he brought his hand thoughtfully to his chin.

  “I guess,” I shrugged. Ethan looked at Josh, trying to read the attentive look on his face.

  “Binding yourself to things is something were-animals can’t do. It falls in the realm of magic—quite advanced magic. It’s the reason I can use others as conduits. The only explanation for what happened is that you held onto the magic you were exposed to at Caleb’s house. When Caleb bit you, it was enough of a blood exchange for you to attain a bond with him and me. That is why you experienced what you did the night before last. You were still bound to him by blood and magic, but he couldn’t call you. If I had been aware of your magical abilities, I would have done a different unbinding spell,” he informed me as he paced the floor. “It was his intention to draw enough blood to call to you last night, forcing you to respond to him. Once you did, he would have given you to Demetrius with hopes of returning to the family. In the past, he has been a reliable source, but his betrayal has made him a liability,” he continued angrily—so angrily that I wondered if indeed Caleb lived through Josh’s last visit.

  He took a deep breath and began to mouth something, and then he touched my arm. I drew back when a weird sensation shot through me.

  “Touch Ethan,” he instructed me.

  I hesitated and then reached slowly toward his arm. “Ethan?” Josh inquired whether he felt anything. Ethan shook his head.

  Josh studied me for a moment then he looked at Ethan. “I just wish I knew what you were. When I met you, I didn’t sense magic; now there is a weak presence,” he stated, bewildered and frustrated.

  “You need to find out,” Ethan stated firmly before he left. Glancing at Josh, I could only imagine the pressure he must feel, given such as a daunting task.

  “Do you think Winter was right? Could I be something really bad?”

  He was silent for a long time. Too long for anything that was going to come from him to be good. “Why did you ask that?”

  “Because when I went to see the Tréase—”

  “When did you go see a Tréase?” he interrupted hastily.

  “ About five days ago with Ethan. He didn’t tell you?”

  “No. But I doubt he realized he should have,” he replied. His voice was strained, and small, frustrated lines formed along his brow. “What happened?” he asked with spurious calmness. He was bothered; his face betrayed his attempt to conceal it as the corners of his mouth coiled into a frown.

  I told him the details of my visit, right down to the creepy demon that startled me.

  “Did you make a bargain with her?” he asked impatiently.

  “I don’t think so,” I stated with hesitation as I recalled the events of that day.

  “Thinking isn’t good enough. I need you to be certain,” he stated firmly.

  I thought about the whole incident, frame by frame. I shook my head, “No, I didn’t make a bargain with her. But she seems to think I will come back.”

  “Skylar, you must never go back to her. Ever. A Tréase is a demon that feeds you the truth sprinkled with tidbits of deceit. They offer the promises of a better future and the removal of undesirable attributes. It’s all a trick to remove your gifts. And with everything you lose, you still end up being indebted to them. Believe me; you never want to be indebted to them.”

  I nodded. “But was she wrong?” I asked, pushing the issue.

  “She wasn’t wrong, but she gave you a skewed version of the truth,” he admitted.

  I groaned but it sounded more like a distressed whimper. “Everyone seems to be able to tell how really wrong I am, except the people I trust to help me,” I stated softly.

  “I wish that were my gift but it isn’t. In the supernatural, where magic exists in many forms, certain anomalies are expected and accepted,” he looked down at his hand. “I am reluctant to take you to someone who may be able to tell us more, especially right now. The word is out that the vampires have an interest in you. There are people who I can go to, but most of them can only be trusted within limits. I would be placing you at risk unnecessarily,” he admitted.

  He was staring at the wall, his face taking on a grave appearance. “There are many in this world who can’t be trusted. If you do have desired gifts, some will try to take them— often by force, deceit and death. I’m not sure how many alliances the vampires have formed. It may be a good idea to restrict interaction until the gem is in our possession.”

  Josh was always straight with me. I committed to doing the same and trusting him with everything. I took the journals out of my messenger bags and handed them to him.

  “I hope these will help. Most of the journals are a simple read but the beginning is a bit confusing. Maybe you can sort it out. ”

  He skimmed over the first page, and then stared at me for a moment. It was as though he were hesitant to find out anything more about me, but soon returned his attention back to the journals.

  Slowly I walked the floor as he took on the task of reading the chronicles of how I came to be. Flipping back and forth between pages, his frown lines appeared, disappeared and reappeared as he read.

  He stayed on the same page for a long time before looking up at me insightfully. “Sit down, Skylar” he stated firmly.

  “I’ll stand.” I leaned against wall and watched as the new information cast an unsettling look on his face.

  “Sit.” He stated in a tone that didn’t leave much room for objections. He pushed the chair next to the bed toward me. “It’s a good idea that you do.”

  Unable to drop my gaze from his, I blindly found my way to the chair and plopped down in it.

  “What do you know of your birth?”

  “Apparently, Elena came upon a vampire after he brutally killed my father and was attempting to do the same to my mother. But my mother died anyway, forcing Elena to perform an emergency C-section to deliver me,” I stated mechanically. I had read that part so many times I could recite it verbatim. Of the journals, the first pages of how I came to live with my adopted mother were the sparsest. She must have still been in shock when she wrote it.

  He sighed; his hands washed over his face. Apprehension piqued but he quickly put it to rest. I had missed something. “Have you ever heard of a spirit shade?” he asked in a tight voice. I shook my head. “Some believe this story to be a myth while others consider it a cautionary tale: Emma was a very powerful witch distraught over her daughter, Maya, who died at two-years old. Driven by sorrow and desperation, she struck a fool’s deal with a Tréase. She bargained for the return of her daughter’s life in exchange for all her gifts.” Josh shook his head as he continued. “In exchange for her daughter’s life, she gave the Tréase her gifts of morphism and foresight, which you’ve had the opportunity to enjoy,” he chuckled a deviant sound. But he was far from amused. He seemed piqued. “The Tréase returned her life but not the body to store it in. Like I said, they are quite the tricksters. Now Maya wanders through this existence, looking for people who are willing to allow her to shadow their lives as her host. Forbidden to force her way in, she must be allowed entry. That’s the sorrow of her life. If no one allows her in, then she exists but cannot live. Quite a sad tale it is for her to be allowed to exist but unable to touch, to feel, to truly experience life unless through a willing host.”

  “The Tréase that I met was the same one Emma went to?”

  He shook his head. “Witches’, elves’, faes’ and demons’ gifts are transferred through lineage but also can be gifted to others upon death. Many chose not to do so, holding the same belief of humans who refuse to donate organs, fearing it will change their status in the afterlife. The Tréase you dealt with could very well be the same; however, it is possible it’s the offspring. Nevertheless, they are just as untrustworthy,” he offered.

  I had no idea why he was telling me this. Taking in the confused look on my face, he frowned and continued. “That night the vampire wasn’t trying to kill your
mother. He was trying to turn her and you in the process. He forced her to feed from him, starting the conversion into vampirism,” he stated in a tight voice. “Elena interrupted the feeding, which would have completed your creation and sealed your fate as a vampire from birth, an undead baby.”

  “I thought creating a vampire child was forbidden,” I forced out, trying to ward off the nausea that was coming on fast.

  “It is. And if things ended as he planned, once your existence became known, your creator, you and your mother would have been killed. A child born into vampirism will never fend for themselves and remain eternally dependent on their creator, essentially an eternal burden. It is cruel to create something that can never thrive on its own. Creatures even as immoral as the vampires can appreciate the cruelty in that.

  “Elena saved me by killing him before the process could be completed,” I acknowledged.

  His face crinkled. I missed something again. Something quite important. “No. Your birth mother killed him.” He turned the journal toward me. “Read it.”

  “‘ … and this life I shall take.’”

  He waited for me to respond, but I wasn’t sure what he was waiting for. “Your mother performed a death curse to spare your life. It’s an amateurish spell and the penalty for performing it is your life. You can see why it’s something done as a last resort. By killing him, she thought she would save your life.”

  There was protracted and uncomfortable silence before he continued. “But she was wrong. You didn’t survive that night either,” he added in a low grave voice.

  I stared back at him, a slow panic rising in the pit of my stomach. “I survived.” Duh, I am standing in front of you.

  He shook his head. “No. You didn’t. You are an innate were-animal and the conversion to vampirism had started. No one survives that.”

  My teeth started to hurt from being clenched so hard. I heard everything he said, but processing it took a while. Partially because I went into flight mode and, for me, that was to evade. My mind didn’t want to grasp what he was saying, although I knew very well what that meant. “I … How? … What?”