Before the Moonrise

by Dawn Gray

  “The curse, which I’m sure Jean told you about, gives me longevity.” Jared sat up, putting his feet down on the floor and leaning forward. “La malédiction du loup.”

  “Oh, yes, the curse of the wolf,” she smiled as she repeated it in English. “That was going to be my next question.” Pausing, she walked over to the seat across from him, where she sat down, Indian style. “You don’t work like the blond one did; in fact he was quite afraid of you that night you saved my life. You can be out in the daylight, though I can tell that the early morning light bothers you still. Also, you don’t reek of death like Collin, but you have fangs and glowing eyes. That brings me to the conclusion that you are not a vampire.”

  “Ha!” he said, rolling his eyes as he sat back. This line of questioning always put him in a foul mood, but for some reason Lily putting him and the creature Collin in the same sentence seemed to hurt him. “I’m glad you came to see that.”

  “So that leaves me only one thought.” She stopped and looked over the features of his face, rising from the seat to move over towards him. Jared looked up at her as she stepped over his legs, placing them between hers as if to say that she had him trapped. “You’re a werewolf, aren’t you?”

  “If I answer yes, are you going to go running for your life?” he questioned as she moved, kneeling down over him, straddling his hips. Unsure of what was going on, Jared left his arms on the sides of the chairs and watched her reach out to touch his bare chest. “Lily, if I am what you suspect, do you really think this is a good idea?”

  “Are you?” she inquired, looking up into his eyes as her hands caressed the taut muscles over his stomach.

  Jared clenched his fists, wanting nothing more than to wrap his arms around her, but he held back. She slipped her hand over his shoulders and came to rest on the side of his neck. Her eyes locked with his, and she watched them flash bright silver before going back to the light blue.

  “Tell me, Jared.”

  “I was born in 1810, and have looked exactly the same since 1844 when the curse placed on my family, by a woman of my grandfather’s time, came to pass. Each full moon night, since the day I truly died, I turn into a wolf. The nights just before and just after, I am both man and animal, and I’m deadly.” Jared looked away from her, trying not to show her how much admitting this aloud hurt him. Gently, Lily turned him back to her, and smiled down at him. “I am over two centuries old and I have killed to stay alive. Yet, in all that time I have never met a woman like you. And now that you know the truth, I’m certain that I have lost you as well.”

  “You haven’t lost me, Jared.” She grinned, tracing his lips with her fingers. “I’ve known what you were for a long time; I’ve just never acknowledged it. There was never a reason to come to conclude what you were, because to me what you are is a man. You are someone who has never harmed me, who spent months talking me through some of the hardest nights, and someone who has done nothing except protect me from a danger that I don’t understand.”

  Finally, his arms came down and wrapped around her tiny waist, pulling her close to him as he placed his cheek against her chest. “So why does my heart feel so uncertain that when the time comes, you aren’t going to just up and leave?”

  “Because I have to leave,” she spoke gently, kissing his temple gingerly as she closed her eyes. “I feared meeting you, meeting anyone, down here because of that one unavoidable reason. My children, my home, and my business are all up north … there is no way to avoid going home. Even if I could, I wouldn’t want to. My children are my life, and as much as I would love to keep you, unless you come with me, I have to let you go.”

  “I can’t tell you that I can. New Orleans is my home, too. What would I do in Massachusetts?” He laughed and listened to her sniffle, suppressing a laugh.

  “One thing is for sure, we don’t have the vampire problem that you seem to have down here. It’s too damn cold for them to live up there,” she replied and held him tighter. “So our only option is to enjoy the time we have together, and to get to the bottom of this problem.”

  “What problem is that?” he inquired sitting back. Lily looked at him, a suggestive smile on her face and desire in her eyes.

  “How I get you back into bed.” Jared placed his hand on the back of her head, tangling it in her hair and pulling her down to him. The passion he felt when their lips touched told him no matter how much time he had with her, anything that involved Lily would be like nothing he had experienced before.

  

  The door to the bedroom burst open and Jared was up immediately, standing guard in front of the bed where Lily lay, covered up to her neck in a sheet. His eyes began to glow bright silver and he bared his teeth at the figures in the doorway, completely oblivious to the fact that he was nude.

  “We have to leave.” Jean’s voice echoed through his ears.

  “Now?” Lily questioned from behind, kneeling on the bed to touch Jared’s arms.

  “There’s no time to explain, but we must leave the church right away,” he stressed and closed the door slowly.

  Jared seemed to come to life, breathing in deeply as a growl trembled through his body. He had held it in, knowing it was Jean at the door, and as he released it. His muscles shuddered, letting go of the tension in them. Slowly he turned to look down at Lily, who held onto his lower arms, and he cupped her face in his hands. Gently, he stroked her cheeks with his thumbs and then kissed her passionately as he moved to wrap his arms around her.

  She shivered in his arms, fear spreading through her as she held tightly to his body, and he knew that she was expecting the worst. He released her lips, pressing his forehead against hers as he closed his eyes.

  “Don’t worry, love, I won’t let anything happen to you,” he reassured her, his fingers caressing her bare skin and he sighed.

  “Where are we going to go?” she questioned, knowing all of her belongings, including the plane tickets home, were at the resort. “Where can we go that they won’t find us?”

  “There are some places that even the vampires know nothing about.” Jared smiled, kissing down to her neck, where he bit gently.

  The small noises that escaped Lily’s throat made him smile and quickly he took the opportunity and bent her backwards, encasing her hardened nipple in his lips. She wanted nothing more than to just give in to the feelings of pleasure that raced through her body with every touch of Jared’s skin, but she couldn’t put the fear far enough away to totally give in.

  He picked her up suddenly, and twirled her around to sit on the bed. Lily was now straddling him, looking down into his bright, blue eyes as he grinned up at her. Gently, he glided into her, feeling her velvet sheath surround him. He tried to hold the composure that this was strictly for her pleasure, something he was doing to ease the tension in her body, but as she moved, taking him in fully and out enough to tickle his tip, he couldn’t help the little noises that escaped through his lips.

  Lily was now smiling as he rolled his eyes, gripping her hips tightly and pushing up into her, hearing her gasp at the sudden feeling of his thrust. With all of her strength, she pushed him back on the bed, placing both hands against his chest. He watched her curiously as she propped herself up on her feet. Squatting down on top of him, with him still buried deep within her, she slowly began to rock.

  “Lily!” Jared pleaded suddenly, as a wave of intense sensations pulsed through his body. He wanted to grab her and hold her there as he took her, but the feeling of her taking control was too overwhelming for him. He gripped the blanket beneath him, holding out as long as he could, before he roared in ecstasy. “Enough!”

  “No, you stay right where you are!” Lily warned; the humor in her voice laced with pleasure.

  Jared clenched his teeth together as her motions brought him to the edge and he opened his eyes to stare up at her as he lost control. He reached up, placing his hands lightly against the soft skin on her hips, and held her as all of his body seemed to tighten. His
release was almost more than he could take, as he placed his head back on the bed and closed his eyes tightly, letting his gratification be heard.

  He couldn’t move as the trembling muscles of his body began to relax, but Lily leaned down and kissed his chest, then up to his chin and around to his ear.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Carefully she moved, pulling him out of her, which received another gasp from Jared as she brushed the sensitive tip of his still erect member. From the corner of his eyes, he watched her pull on the clothing that she had worn earlier that day and he sighed, for he was in no condition to even turn over.

  “Where did you learn that?” he inquired, smiling as she turned and grinned, pulling her long locks back in a ponytail.

  “A woman never tells her secrets.” Lily smiled, as she sat beside him on the bed. He reached over and took her hand in his, caressing the top of it gently. She considered the seriousness in his eyes and touched his cheek gently with her free hand. “What is it, Jared?”

  “It’s nothing,” he whispered, holding in everything he wanted to tell her. Leisurely he sat up and stretched, kissing her on the cheek as he stood and began to rummage around for clothes.

  

  Lily rubbed the back of her neck as the four of them stood in front of a large wooden doorway. Jean knocked three times, in some rhythmic order and stepped back, glancing down at her, worry in his face. The left side opened slowly and a small black woman, older in age, looked up at him. Then she swept her gaze over the two girls and Jared. She shook her head, stepped back, and waved for them to come in.

  After the door closed behind her, Lily was able to take in the garden before her. It was full of colors; in fact, the entire color spectrum seemed to live in the enclosure. Several older women with darkened skin tended the lush floral array with care and delicacy. Lily couldn’t help but feel the magical pulse of energy that the place held.

  One of the women, who looked up as she passed, reached out and took her hand, drawing an invisible symbol on the soft skin of her palm.

  “We all are part of magic, my dear child,” she whispered, smiling. Lily smiled back as Jared took her free hand gently, leading her away.

  When they entered the building on the opposite side of the court, the two women looked at one another in awe. It was as if they stepped into an old temple. In the middle, a fire—contained in a marble pit—blazed, taking the chill out of the windowless room. Despite the lack of natural light, the room itself was bright and welcoming. In the middle, just beyond the fire, sat a large table surrounded by overstuffed, cushioned chairs. At the head of this wonderfully crafted table was a beautiful woman.

  She was thin, her brown eyes glowing with knowledge as she smiled warmly at them. Her skin was dark but looked soft to the touch. Her gown was simple in its pattern and color, but on her it looked eloquent and symbolic of royalty. Her hair was wrapped in the same golden fabric of her dress, and she stood to meet them.

  “Madame LaQue.” Jean bowed his head, his eyes full of awe. “Thank you for your assistance.”

  “Please, be seated. We don’t have much time before the moonrise,” she said, her voice hypnotic.

  The four of them sat around the table with Jared moving his seat closer to Lily to comfort her, but she wasn’t frightened. She was in awe of this woman, the one with a young woman’s body and infinite knowledge in her eyes.

  She stepped in front of Lily and smiled, then glanced at Jared. “You are the light the vampires are after. What flows through you is powerful magic.”

  “I’ve never felt magical, I’ve always been scared,” Lily admitted.

  “Yet you raise three children on your own and you overcame your fears and anxiety to travel here.” Her smile grew wider. “You have done what no other has. Collin is one of the oldest of his kind, yet you resisted his enthrallment. Your belief is what aided in your release.”

  “It was just breath spray.” Lily smiled, understanding what Madame LaQue was telling her. “How did you know about my children?”

  “I see a lot, child, more than most.” She sat down and glanced back and forth between Jared and Lily. “I can see the difference you have already made in him.”

  Jared smiled down at Lily and kissed her forehead.

  “Why are the vampires after Lily?” Kylie questioned, sitting forward as a young woman delivered glasses of cold water to the table. “How would they even know she was going to be here?”

  “Good questions, my girl,” Madame LaQue replied as she brushed down her skirt and placed her hands on her lap. “Centuries ago, the vampires ruled the nights in New Orleans, more so than most men thought. They were the reason for the deaths in this city, gorging on the blood of merchant ships and the men who worked on them. It was then that the people decided that something, anything, must be done about them. So they sent out a message to the tribes of the north, to the Indians, asking for help in this matter.

  “They sent to us a young woman said to have powers of the ancients, and with her help the people of New Orleans were able to defeat a good number of the vampires. But at the same time, something quite unexpected happened. One of the monsters, who had bitten her in a battle, was able to step out into the daylight and be untouched by the sun.

  “After that, there was nothing stopping them; they wanted her blood, all of her blood. But one of them, just one, wanted so much more. You see, she also awakened his soul, brought life to his cold body and a beat to his heart. He wanted her for his mate, to keep with him forever so that he wouldn’t lose the feeling, but she protested, wanting nothing to do with the monster.

  “He tried many ways to get to her—using his illusions of glamour and wealth to win her favor—but nothing would touch her, for she was believed to have no heart. The legend says that she only had one purpose; to be the light against the darkness.

  “One cold night, when the rains came down, washing away all that survived outside, she was caught by the others. Monsters who wanted nothing more than to be able to live in the light once again, something they had scorned when they turned, but he wouldn’t allow it. They rose up against him, as he tried desperately to keep the girl safe. He was able to remove her from the danger, but not before being wounded and drained of blood. Grateful for what he had done for her, she cared for him. She took much caution on not letting him bite her, but as things will be, their union was inevitable.”

  “He raped her?” Jared questioned, anger rising in his voice.

  “No, my friend, she came to love him, and they disappeared together,” she answered, but could see that the thought of it repulsed Jared. “A vampire is a soul who is lost in the darkness. One who turned when all hope was gone, and when hope returned, then the soul is no longer lost and therefore the heart is filled with light.”

  “So what happened to them?” Kylie asked quietly, watching the glow in Jared’s eyes.

  “No one knows, but it is rumored that a child was born to them,” Madame replied. “A child of light. Down through the centuries that light has been passed on to a special child, sometimes generations apart from the last. It has been one-hundred years since the last was brought to this region, and again the same thing happened. The vampires sought her out, wanting nothing except her light for themselves. Luckily she was able to get away, her vampire companion in tow.”

  “Do they always pair with a vampire?” Jean questioned, watching the concern on Lily’s face.

  “It has been that way for as long as it is written.” Madame sighed, also glancing at Lily. “However, it seems that this time might be different.”

  “Different how?” Lily asked, shaking her head. “You’re telling me that some vampire is going to come out of the woodwork and save me from being a late evening snack for the others?”

  “Not a vampire, my girl.” Madame smiled, glancing over at Jared. Lily, who wasn’t even thinking at the time, turned and looked at the blue-eyed man beside her. Jared placed his hands on her cheeks, and look
ed deep into her eyes, smiling at her as he did so. “It is not chance that the two of you have met, not coincidence that you heard his voice inside your head.” Kylie looked over at Lily quickly, having been the only one that Lily had confided in, with wide eyes. “It is fate, my children. But take nothing for granted, for there may still be a vampire out there that you connect with, and that could be deadly.”

  “Two souls searching for the light?” Jean questioned, crossing his arms over his chest. “But that has never been heard of.”

  “That is true, but a werewolf has never been involved when the time for the moonrise is upon us.” Madame glanced at Lily and smiled. “Fear not, child, it is still a few nights off, and Jared will protect you from what will come to be. For now, I will show you to your rooms. This place is safe, unable to be breached by the undead, and you are welcomed in its walls. But be wary, there are shadows and spirits about that you may come upon. Be not afraid, for they will not harm you.”

  “Thank you, Madame.” Jean smiled, speaking for the group as she stood and walked out of the room, leaving the four of them behind to think over what was learned.

  

  Damon growled as the large wooden door closed upon him, locking him out from the inner sanctuary of the voodoo woman. He cursed under his breath, knowing that he wasn’t going to be able to step foot inside. The woman was too smart to succumb to his charms or his powers, so he was going to have to wait it out. Or possibly find a way to be invited within the walls.

  Just then, he watched as a young woman, dressed in the uniform of a housekeeper, slipped outside the sacred walls. She made her way down towards the small market place that lay hidden in the alley some several short blocks over. He smiled, his grin wide and evil, and on silent feet he moved with her, making sure to stay several paces behind.

  

  Kylie paced the sitting room of the small accommodations they were given. Like the Quarter House, there were two rooms, two bathrooms, a living room area, and a kitchen. At that moment, none of the four seemed interested in eating or sleeping. In fact, Lily was growing quite anxious with Kylie’s pacing that she found herself unable to sit still.