Lunar Rebirth (Lunar Rampage Trilogy Book 3)

by Samantha Cross

  Molly lifted my hand that carried the stake and guided it to her chest. The pointed end pressed at the flesh above her heart, and just before I pushed, she smiled.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  DANA

  We separated from the group—Melanie’s idea, not mine—and headed toward the countryside in a rental car. Everyone else was asleep at the hotel, and in the middle of the night, Melanie woke me up and insisted I had to come with her and that what she needed to do had to be done at that very second.

  It was Melanie, so I agreed without hesitation.

  We drove for an hour, and when we reached a dirt road, she parked the car and got out. I followed her up the track and into a rural neighborhood with nice two-story houses and big yards with picket fences. It was still the early morning hours, so everyone was asleep and the area was deathly silent.

  Once we were on the sidewalk and in front of a house, Melanie stopped. She stared in through the window, not saying a word.

  “What are we doing here?” I asked.

  With a nod, she answered, “This is my parents’ house.”

  “Oh, my god.”

  I was suddenly taking in the house’s exterior in a more detailed way. It was white with gray shutters, and the kitchen light was still on.

  “They think I’m dead,” she whispered. “They didn’t have a big funeral, just a spreading of my ashes by a tree. Cora said, in the spot they put them, they planted lilies.” Melanie sighed. “I hate lilies.”

  I saw movement through one of the lit windows. “They’re still awake,” I said, surprised.

  Melanie didn’t look nor sound surprised. “My mom never sleeps when she’s depressed.” Her voice wasn’t sad, it was broken. “I guess that fight we had about me thinking she didn’t love me anymore was stupid.” Her chin dropped low, and she shook her head. “I really didn’t deserve them.”

  “You know that’s not true.”

  Melanie had no reply.

  “Are you going to go in and see them?” I asked.

  Calmly, she shook her head and said, “No.”

  “Why not? They need you.”

  “Do they, though?” she asked as she looked over at me. “Look what knowing about this world has done to Cora, and to me. If I go inside, that means I have to tell them everything. About what I am, what you are, about what else might be out there. They’ll be dragged into this mess, and that’s exactly what got me killed. I could never do that to them. I’m not the most selfless person, but even I know better.”

  She was selfless, she just wouldn’t admit it.

  I heavily sighed. “I won’t try to talk you out of it. I did something similar. My parents don’t think I’m dead, but I may as well be.”

  Melanie stared through the window, her mind lingering on her decision. “I am doing the right thing, right?”

  I nodded. “They’re hurting now, but they’ll get better. They’ll move on.”

  “Is it sad that that’s what I’m afraid of? That they’ll move on and forget about me?”

  “They could never forget about you. That much I’m certain about.”

  Just for me, she tried to squeeze out a smile.

  “I’m more worried about you,” I breathed. “They might be able to move on, but what about you? Can you?”

  “I have literally all of eternity. I’ll get there.”

  “But your parents have each other to get through this. Are you gonna be okay to do this on your own?”

  Something in her expression softened. The sadness in her eyes was still there but not as powerful. “I won’t be alone,” she said. I felt her fingers wind around mine, and bring my palm up against hers and then squeeze. It wasn’t a dream, Melanie was really holding my hand tightly.

  My voice broke. “You mean it?”

  “You and Cora are the only people who ever really fought for me. She’s my family, so I get it, but you…you saw who I was without me even having to say a word. You get me in a way that no one else does. Or ever has.”

  “A part of me feels like I’ve always known you,” I admitted.

  Melanie’s brow raised. “It’s the same for me. I was afraid of what that meant, but I don’t think I’m afraid anymore. When I’m with you, I feel less lonely. I feel seen. Understood. Living suddenly doesn’t seem like such a burden.”

  My heart raced. This was real. Her feelings for me weren’t all in my head.

  Melanie curled a chunk of hair behind my ear, and a thousand goosebumps broke out all over my body. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, trying to calm myself and prepare for what was next. Soon, her lips were on mine, and our mouths tangled in a passionate kiss.

  I was hers and she was mine. As we held on to one another and never let go, all I could hope for was that this would last forever.

  Chapter Fifty

  CORA

  One month later…

  It was Christmas Eve at my apartment, and playing on the living room stereo was a mix of my favorite holiday songs. A little Nat King Cole, a little Bing Crosby, maybe Alvin and the Chipmunks for my fancy. We’d all been wining and dining for a few hours, having stuffed our faces so severely with the feast I cooked that everyone had to disperse around my apartment to work the calories off.

  Everyone was there: Priscilla, Daggett, Max, Brinly, Lincoln, and my main chick, Grandma Wendy. Somehow I persuaded her to get away from her new lavish lifestyle and hang with us normies.

  I found her chatting to Daggett and Priscilla, and I was fairly certain Priscilla was trying to acquire some weed from her. “You still knee-deep in all that green in your garage?”

  “Yes, dear.”

  “You think I might swing by sometime?”

  “Well, of course, dear! Just bring your wallet.”

  Priscilla scowled. “For real?”

  “I may be old, but I’m no sucker.”

  I had to stifle my laughter. Grandma cracked me up.

  Daggett swung his arm around Priscilla and said, “You don’t need all of that, anyway. Your lungs might appreciate the break from all the smoke.”

  “Who is this?” Grandma asked.

  Priscilla stared at her strangely. “Daggett. You met him thirty seconds ago.”

  Grandma flicked her forehead with the tip of her finger. “Oh, of course. I’m so sorry, Dodge.”

  “Daggett,” he clarified.

  “Daggett? That’s not a human being name, sweetie, that’s a pet’s name.”

  Priscilla had a big belly laugh over that one. Daggett, however, seemed only slightly amused as he tucked his top lip into his mouth and gave a small nod. “Daggett’s my last name. My birth name is Rickey,” he explained.

  “Oh, well, see, that is so much better. That sounds like a grown-up.”

  His lips were still tucked into his mouth as he said, “Thanks.” Priscilla chuckled to herself in the corner.

  “Is this your boyfriend, Presley?”

  Before Priscilla could answer, Daggett cut her off. “We’re still working on the label.”

  As though he said nothing at all, Priscilla plainly jumped in with a, “Yeah, he is.” Daggett’s head jerked in her direction and she smiled back at him. They had come a long way.

  “Boyfriend, eh? Well, sweetie, you need to feed your boyfriend better.”

  Priscilla cocked an eyebrow. “His ass knows how to use a can opener.”

  “He’d be cuter if he put on a little weight, dear. His arms are as skinny as mine.”

  Priscilla burst into laughter while Daggett held his drink and simply nodded. “She said cuter, which means she thinks I’m already cute, so I’m taking this as a small victory,” he replied.

  “Small as your arms,” Priscilla teased.

  “We both know I’m not small everywhere,” he teased back, which caused Priscilla to grin.

  Across the room, I was in the middle of a conversation with Lincoln and Brinly, whose baby bump had grown to a decent size beneath her velvet Christmas dress. Like usual, she looked and dre
ssed in a league above the rest of us bums. We all thought sweaters with tacky reindeer heads on them counted as dressing up.

  “How close are you getting?” I inquired.

  “She’ll be ready to pop in four months,” Brinly answered as she patted her swollen belly.

  I raised an eyebrow. “She? It’s a girl?”

  Lincoln scoffed. “Brin thinks it’s a girl.”

  “No, Brin knows it’s a girl,” she corrected.

  “Yeah, okay, okay. Whatever you say, Mama.”

  “I wouldn’t have ordered all pink everything if I wasn’t sure of this. Call it motherly instinct.”

  Lincoln just rolled his eyes and shook his head. I got the impression they had this argument twenty times already, because he caved and popped a quick kiss on her cheek and then said, “I’m getting a drink.”

  As he walked away, Brinly shouted, “Not too much. You’re driving, remember? It’s hard for me to steer with this bowling ball under my dress.”

  “And here I thought it was a baby,” I joked.

  “If I’m being real, it feels like an alien most of the time. She’s always doing flips and kicking me.”

  “You got a gymnast on your hands.”

  “I got something, that’s for sure.”

  I reached out to touch her stomach, but then stopped myself. “Is it okay?” I asked.

  “Go ahead.”

  I placed my hand on her, and almost immediately, I felt a kick hit the center of my palm. I jumped and then laughed. “You weren’t kidding.”

  “She’s ready to come out. Little princess can’t wait to rule, but I keep reminding her she’s gotta develop more,” she said lovingly and swirled her flattened hand across her belly.

  “How’s that working?” I asked. “You know, going against tradition and not having an arranged marriage.”

  She sighed and then shrugged. “It’s not going perfectly, but we’re making strides. It’s something our families have been doing for so long that a lot of the relatives aren’t exactly…eager…to let Lincoln and I jump into marriage. It’s a lot of boring steps you don’t care to hear about. I’m just happy they’re accepting this little girl, anyway. Believe me, they weren’t for it at first.”

  “Baby steps, right?” I said as I gently placed a hand on her arm.

  Brinly nodded and smiled. “Can’t change the world overnight.”

  “Wouldn’t that be nice?”

  Max came up beside me and kissed me on the cheek. “I’m hearing a few rumbles about leaving,” he whispered, and I knew exactly why he brought it up.

  I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and yelled, “Before anybody leaves, we gotta get a group photo!”

  Barely anyone looked up.

  “Don’t be a bunch of grinches,” I said, and then clapped my hands together. “In front of the tree, please!” Begrudgingly, they listened and packed in front of my giant, lopsided fake tree with too much tinsel and a star at the top that was sliding to the right. I didn’t believe in cutting trees for Christmas, but even I had to admit the real ones looked better. This was just flat out wonky.

  Before I snapped a picture, Priscilla yelled, “Wait!” And then switched from standing on Daggett’s left to his right. “If you’re gonna take a picture of me in this ugly outfit, then at least get me at my good angle.”

  Funny how this black attire she had on was an ugly outfit, when in reality, it looked no different from everything else she ever wore.

  I lifted my phone up and pointed it at them. “Okay, everyone say ‘Grandma got run over by a reindeer’!”

  The group collectively groaned.

  “What?” I asked, dumbfounded.

  “Dear, I’m not fond of this song,” Grandma began. “It’s racist.”

  “Does someone want to tell her what that word means, or should I?” Brinly asked with a raised finger.

  “Can we please do it my way?” I asked.

  Daggett cleared his throat. “Just an outside opinion, but having us say that will force our mouths into weird positions and you’ll never get the picture you want.”

  Max grumbled loudly beside me. “For fuck’s sake, smile and shut up.”

  “Smile and shut up!” I echoed and snapped the photo.

  The flash scared Biggie Smalls who, unbeknownst to me, was hiding inside the Christmas tree. He leaped out of it in a hurry and ran across Priscilla’s shoulders, and she yelped. “Goddamnit! Cora, do something about your rodent!”

  “He’s just spooked!” I told her.

  “He’s gonna be dead in a minute. I told you that cat has it out for me, I swear to God!”

  I laughed her hissy fit off and reviewed the photo I took. The picture turned out horrible: Grandma was staring at the ceiling, Lincoln and Daggett were glancing over at each other, Brinly posed like she was in a photoshoot, and one of Priscilla’s eyes was flipped to the back of her head like she was possessed. It was a mess, but so were we. It worked.

  There was only one thing missing.

  When I knew everyone was busy chatting in front of the tree, I snuck off into my bedroom as quietly as I could so no one would notice me. Out of the top drawer of my dresser, I retrieved a scrap piece of paper with a phone number written on it. It was a number so secret I didn’t feel safe even putting it into my contacts list. I whipped out my cell and immediately dialed. After just a few seconds, she picked up.

  “I was wondering when you’d call,” she said.

  “Merry Christmas, Melanie.”

  “Merry Christmas, cous.”

  I smiled. “Just so you know, you’re missing out on a big feast.”

  “Did you cook it?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then I’m good. There’s only so much vegetarian soup I can choke down.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You sound like Grandma.”

  There was a long pause. “I hope you guys are doing okay.”

  “We’d be more than okay if you were here.”

  “You know that’s never gonna happen.”

  “What if we just say your death was a mistake?”

  “Cora.”

  “You could always fake your death years down the line when you’re not aging.”

  “Cora, I’ve accepted it. Move on.”

  I was being an ass, because the more I talked about it, the more doubt and regret I could plant in her head when she had already made up her mind. Melanie was stronger than I ever could be. I’d never be able to walk away from my entire family like that.

  “So, where are you guys this week?” I asked.

  “Someplace warm. I made the guy at the front desk give us the fanciest, most expensive room in the entire hotel. Didn’t cost me a cent.”

  Of course she hypnotized him. “Just don’t get carried away,” I warned her. “Remember, with great power comes great…”

  “Yeah, yeah, I got it, Spiderman.”

  “Uncle Ben. That was an Uncle Ben line.”

  “You don’t have to correct me every time, nerd. I got the reference. That’s what matters.” I gave her props for that. Human Melanie never understood any comic book movie reference I threw at her. Pretty sure she thought anyone who read or watched those was some kind of psycho.

  On the other end, I heard Melanie whispering to someone. “Is that Dana?” I asked.

  “Hi, Cora!” Dana greeted.

  “Have you finally come to your senses and ditched my cousin?”

  “I have enhanced hearing, you know,” Melanie said, and I laughed.

  “When are you going to invite me out there?”

  “When you’re not busy,” Melanie answered. “Maybe after the holidays.”

  “Busy? Do you even know me? I have no life.”

  “Something tells me that’s about to change.”

  “You a psychic now?”

  Melanie snorted. “Do me a favor. When Max does it, just say yes. Don’t be a dork.”

  She couldn’t see me, but I made a strange face, anyway. “When he d
oes what?” I asked.

  Melanie giggled. “I gotta let you go, cousin.”

  “Wait!”

  I didn’t want to end the phone call; I didn’t want to not hear her voice for another several months and wonder and worry where she was or if she was okay.

  “Cora,” she began softly. “I’ll be fine. I can take care of myself.”

  I took a deep breath. “I know you can.”

  “Sweet dreams, Cora. And if I don’t see you before the new year, Happy New Year.”

  “Same to you.”

  The phone call ended. Melanie never really was fond of saying goodbye.

  Max was suddenly standing in the open doorway of my bedroom, in mid-knock, until he saw me hang up the phone. “Was that, uh…?” He didn’t want to say her name in case Grandma was nearby.

  “Yeah. She’s good.” I was happy to hear her voice, but still sad. I missed her already.

  Max could read me like a book. “You want to go for a walk?” he asked.

  “In the middle of the party? We’re the hosts.”

  “It won’t take long. I promise.” I didn’t even realize he was holding my coat until he tossed it toward me. He came prepared. I slipped it on and followed him out of my apartment. Hardly anyone noticed us leaving.

  It was snowing when we walked down the sidewalk outside my apartment building. I caught the snowflakes in my hand as couples passed by us, bundled up in winter coats, scarves, and hats. Each street lamp we walked passed was donned with wreaths and white Christmas lights. I loved how festive the area was.

  Max grabbed the back of my coat and tugged me toward him as we walked. I bumped into his chest and laughed. “Hey now,” I jokingly warned him.

  “You all right?” he asked. “You looked a little down back there.”

  “Just missing my cousin is all.”

  “We’ll visit her. Don’t worry.”

  I leaned my cheek against his shoulder to keep warm. “You realize how crazy this is? Almost all of us are together, alive, celebrating the holidays with nothing awful or dangerous looming over our heads.”