Moonlight War- Act II (The Realmers Book 3)

by William Collins

  Lok was cool and collected, as ever, occasionally remarking on how he was itching for the battle to come. Lyella had barely let Brooke anywhere near him, cuddling and stroking Lok’s hair whenever the opportunity presented itself, whilst shooting daggers at Brooke more often than not. Tyrell, on the other hand, made it his job to speak to everyone. He went amongst the vampires and werewolves, talking strategy informing them of all he knew about Dark Venators, like a war general. The only time Tyrell took a break from preparing, was to chat to Brooke when he saw her alone. Their chats never lasted long though, as Tyrell was back off to his duties. He was so driven to do what was right by Veneseron. He definitely took his job more seriously than Lok. Tyrell had already contacted the Fortress three times since the attack last night, informing them that they were set for a showdown against the Rakarn. Unfortunately the Venators were spread thin and the only reinforcements available tonight were rookie Mid-Realmers. Tyrell reassured the Monitors that they would be okay though, they had London’s Moonlight races on their side. The reinforcements would be on standby, however, unless there was more Rakarn then anticipated.

  Right now Lok had slipped out of Lyella’s grasp and sprawled beside Brooke on one of the ancient sofas. She sat huddled and nervous while he lay languorously, chatting about previous missions, as if he was bored with the waiting.

  “…and then me and Domnican cut the Ogre’s horned head off,” he chuckled. “We had to deal with a few trolls as well, but it was great fun hacking ‘em to pieces.”

  Brooke frowned at him, slightly disturbed by his elated expression.

  “What about tonight? You don’t think we’re out of our depth do you?”

  “Naa.” Lok waved off her concern. “Besides, the geektastic Tyrell alerted the Fortress. If things go awry they’ll send in the cavalry.”

  “Tyrell’s not a geek, he’s just making sure we won’t all die tonight.”

  Lok sat up and gestured all around him, “Look, Brooke, we have both a vamp coven and a wolf pack. Add five Venators, including the greatest demon slayer the worlds have ever known, which is moi, and it’ll be a walk in the park.”

  “But the Rakarn have got evil vampires, several demented werewolves and shifters. Plus, there could be more of them then there are of us. They could be more powerful than us, they could…” She realised she was close to getting hysterical and forced herself to stifle her emotions.

  “Brooke,” Lok’s expression had switched back to the warm, angelic one that she had seen before. His features were so tender then, his eyes so filled with warmth. “Do you seriously think I would ever let anything happen to you?”

  “You act like you don’t care about your own life most of the time,” she replied.

  “Sure I can be reckless, but I’ve never let a fellow Venator even get seriously hurt whilst on a mission with me. And honestly, I’d never let you come to harm. You’re special.”

  Her heart fluttered inside her chest and she felt her cheeks go red. “Special?”

  “Yeah, you’re not like the other girls at Veneseron.”

  Brooke suspected that these were lines he used all the time and hated how a small part of her liked it.

  “I mean, there isn’t one girl in Veneseron that doesn’t like me on either some emotional or physical level, most of the time it’s both.” He flashed his trademark grin. “Some may hate me, but they can’t deny that they’re attracted to me. The other girls, well, they’re head over heels in love with me.”

  “You’re so full of crap,” Brooke chuckled.

  “Yeah, probably.” He agreed with another flash of his perfect teeth. “But that’s what I’m saying; you’re different to the others. You’re pretty fiery, and so far you’ve resisted my amazing charms.”

  She wasn’t sure whether he was joking or not. Either way it had lifted some of her anxiety for the coming battle.

  “What about Lyella? You seem to like her well enough, and she certainly doesn’t resist you.”

  “Friends with benefits,” he shrugged.

  “I don’t think she sees it that way. She’s a bit possessive.”

  “Oh, I hadn’t noticed.” Lok smirked. “So,” he continued. “How long are you going to continue to resist me?”

  She smiled back at him, despite herself.

  “and realise that Arantay is a lost cause,” Lok finished.

  Her smile retreated.

  “What, did I say something?”

  Brooke thought long and hard about Arantay, as she had done countless times since she’d first set eyes on him.

  “He’s distant, yeah,” she said. “I thought there was something between us at first. But after Falawn…we grew further and further apart.”

  “Well, he isn’t human is he? How could you two really relate?” Lok asked.

  She hesitated. It was true Arantay had rejected her, as he pretty much rejected everyone around him. He was a loner, he never let anyone in. Tay was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, and he was strong, kind and caring, but he was also emotionally unavailable, and it was impossible to break the barriers he had set about himself. But you have kissed.

  Maybe it was love she felt for him, maybe it was just the strongest infatuation she had ever felt. Either way, she had to move on, or at least to try to.

  “You still there, babe?” Lok asked, his impish grin in place once again

  “Yeah, sorry.”

  “So, are you gonna’ carry on taking playing hard to get to the next level, or…”

  He left his words hanging.

  Before she could answer, Lyella appeared.

  “Lok,” She literally hauled him off the sofa away from Brooke. “I need you to help me put on my armour, come on.”

  “Uh-I was kind of in the middle of-”

  “This is more important,” Lyella cut across tartly.

  “Just chill out,” Lok said. “You don’t own me.”

  Lyella looked like he had slapped her, but then she smiled, surprisingly.

  “Actually, I want a few words with Brooke alone. So why don’t you be a dear and go fetch my armour for me?” She lightly pushed him away from both of them.

  Lok threw a worried glance Brooke’s way, but grudgingly set off down the hall as Lyella sat next to her.

  Lyella flicked her hair back haughtily, a mass of smooth blonde locks that leaked down her back like liquid silver and gold. Her blue-green eyes came uncomfortably close to Brooke’s own as she leaned towards her.

  “Look, honey.” She placed a hand on Brooke’s knee. “Lok is king of Veneseron Fortress, and I’m queen. Got it? We run that place. Now Lok likes to have his little games with other girls on the side, but he always comes back to me. Me and him were made for each other, whilst you are just his little flavour of the month, got it?”

  Brook’s mind whirled, “Why are you so horrible?” she asked, truly puzzled.

  “You think I’m lying?”

  Lyella smiled sweetly, yet Brooke knew she was mocking her. “Ask around,” Lyella continued. “You’re still relatively new to our Fortress, everyone knows what Lok’s like, and everyone knows we’re destined to be together. So why don’t you just back off and let us be.”

  “Back off? I’m hardly the one coming on to him. It’s Lok you should be mad with.”

  “Fine,” Lyella snapped venomously, standing up. “Enjoy it while you can, sweetheart, because it won’t last. You’re just the latest dumb bimbo to amuse him for a while.”

  “I’m the dumb bimbo?” Brooke stood up herself, anger rising to the surface and flushing her face.

  “Are you saying I am,” Lyella stepped toward her, their noses were only inches apart.

  “You’re a lot of things, Lyella. The words dumb, desperate and bully come to mind.”

  “Insult me one more time,” Lyella said through gritted teeth. “And see what happens.”

  Suddenly Tyrell was there, stepping between them before the situation got anymore heated.

  “Why are
you two arguing? Haven’t you forgotten we have a battle to fight?”

  Lyella ignored him, throwing Brooke a scathing look as she turned to depart. “You’ll get what’s coming to you.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” she called after her, but Tyrell held her back.

  Brooke noticed that a few of the vampires and werewolves had turned to stare, Cazantian’s lips were curved as he sipped from his glass of blood.

  Lyella didn’t reply to her last comment, but swopped down on Lok as he returned to the main hall, his arms laden with her armour,

  “Don’t tell me that was over Lok?” Tyrell had followed her gaze.

  Brooke huffed angrily. “More to do with her obsession over him, and not wanting any other girl near him.”

  Tyrell sucked a breath between his teeth. “Yeah, that girl can be a lot to handle, just count yourself lucky that we aren’t back at the Fortress, her gang of clones would be after you.”

  “Tell me about it.” She knew all too well about Lyella’s gang.

  “What about Lok?” She didn’t really believe Lyella, or maybe she just didn’t want to, but it niggled at the back of her mind.

  “Lok? Well he can get a bit carried away sometimes, but he’s generally a decent guy. He likes to play around, but he’s never failed on a mission, where it counts.”

  Brooke smiled gratefully. “Thanks Tyrell, you’re a decent enough guy, too.”

  Tyrell nodded. “Now, focus on the battle to come. We can’t risk any casualties. We’ve gotta’ hit these Dark-Venators hard and end it tonight.”

  Brooke’s nerves returned as the realised the battle was only hours away.

  Tyrell stood up to leabe. “By the way, you haven’t seen Arantay anywhere have you? I need to talk tactics with him.”

  She shook her head. No. She hadn’t seen Arantay for hours.

  *

  Arantay tried to clear his mind of the turmoil raging there. He forced himself to stand still and just gaze up at the stars. Trying to let their beauty distract and soothe him. The graveyard outside the church was blissfully silent, the gravestones wreathed in a thin layer of mist which swirled around his ankles. Arantay thought fondly of Veneseron too, attempting to erase the anger within.

  He hadn’t been able to catch him. Falawn had got away again. He’d returned to the church over an hour ago, yet had been lurking in the cemetery all that time.

  He sensed her presence before he saw her.

  “Arantay?”

  He turned to look at Brooke reluctantly, his mind failing him as soon as he saw her. He couldn’t stop himself noticing the way the moonlight made her chestnut hair shine and her golden-brown skin gleam. She had the body of an athlete, and the heart of a warrior. Like the stars, her beauty was a distraction, but one he didn’t want to have.

  Arantay purposefully avoided her eyes, turning back to the sky above.

  “Am I needed inside?”

  “Kind of,” she replied softly. “Tyrell wants’ to over battle plans. I was also wondering where you were, and… if you were okay.”

  “I’m fine,” he replied shortly. He winced a moment later, he hadn’t meant to come across as rude.

  “No, you aren’t,” she replied, stopping to stand directly before him. “You need to let this obsession with Falawn go, Tay.”

  “Obsession! You don’t understand a thing Brooke. You’re family isn’t dead. Your own brother isn’t to blame. You couldn’t possibly know what I’m feeling, so I’d appreciate if you stay out of it.”

  “You're not the only one with a messed up brother you know,” she burst out angrily. “I know it’s not nearly as bad, my brother didn't kill my parents or anything. I just want you to know that you're not alone. I know what it’s like to be related to someone who could do such… horrible things. Your own flesh and blood. But killing Falawn won’t bring you any peace, Arantay.”

  “It’ll bring me justice,” he snapped, not caring there was an edge to his voice now. “I have to finish things with my brother. I need to do that, before I can live again.”

  His mind and body quivered with emotion, things he didn’t understand conflicted inside him. Until he’d vocalised it, he hadn’t realised it himself, he would never truly be happy until he took revenge upon his brother.

  “Fine,” Brooke said at last. Breathing heavily as she stared at him. He forced himself to meet her gaze. Her large amber eyes were full of warmth, but also worry for him. “One way or the other, I hope you do settle things with your brother. For your own sake. Falawn does deserve to die, not just what he’s done, but how many innocents he may go on to kill, now he’s with the Rakarn. But I don’t think you should be the one to kill him.”

  “What!” He said quietly. “It has to be m-“

  He cut off as she stepped closer to him. “No matter what you think now, I think killing your own brother might do more harm to you than you think.”

  “No, I-I think it will bring me peace. I’ll be avenging my family. But, you’re right in a way. If someone else did kill Falawn… at least it would be over.”

  “Just don’t let it distract you tonight,” Brooke said. “If you only have eyes for Falawn, a Dark-Venator or a rabid wolf could use that distraction to take you out.”

  “I know.” he felt himself crack a small smile. “Hey. You’re the rookie here, I should be telling you what to do.”

  She grinned back. “I can’t help it if I’m naturally a master at all this. Not really, I’m Ushk-scared about the battle tonight. I just care about you, I don’t want you to die tonight because you’re distracted.”

  “Thanks,” he murmured. “I… care about you too. And try not to be scared. Tyrell, Lok and Lyella are incredibly skilled Venators, and we have both the vamps and wolves on our side. We should win this battle without difficulty.”

  “Well,” Brooke said. He noticed her voice quavering for some reason. She stepped even closer toward him. “Just in case we do die tonight. I wanted to do this.”

  “What-” He broke off as she leaned forward and claimed his mouth with her own.

  His shock at the contact was momentary, and he found himself kissing her back, softly at first, but rising in intensity.

  Arantay could feel her fear and excitement alike through the kiss. Her body trembled and he felt Brooke’s arms around him as her hands clung to his shoulders for dear life, as if she was drowning and he was the only thing keeping her afloat. He knew she was terrified of the battle to come, and how she’d performed throughout the mission in general.

  He wanted to quell her fears, to tell her everything would be okay. But that would be a lie. They could both die tonight, so he deepened the kiss even more. She responded by pulling at his hair, pulling him down toward her as her tongue slipped into his mouth with an agitated desperation.

  His vampiric senses had been triggered and he could feel the beat of Brooke’s heart vibrating through her lips. He could hear the rush of her blood too. All he had to do was entangle his mouth from hers and move down to her neck. Just one tiny bite and her life-force would burst into his mouth. He could drink her, just a little bit. He could--No!

  Arantay jerked back violently, making Brooke jolt back too. They stared at each other, their chests heaving breathlessly.

  He looked away from her, appalled at himself. He hadn’t thought about drinking from a human in years. He felt like a predator, a monster.

  “Brooke…I-”

  “Save it,” she said. He was surprised to not hear any anger in her tone. He looked back to see that she was flushed and panting, but thrilled too.

  “I don’t need to hear another speech about how we can’t be together,” Brooke continued. “Like I said, if tonight’s my last night, I’ll have no regrets about kissing you. If you didn’t want too, you wouldn’t have kissed me back.”

  He simply nodded, knowing she was right about that part. She had no idea that he’d pulled away because he’d thought about drinking from her, though. Would she be horrifi
ed if I told her?

  “C’mon.” She flashed him a shy smile. “Let’s get back to the main hall, we’ll be leaving soon.”

  As he walked back inside with her his mind and body quivered with emotion, things he didn’t understand conflicted inside him. He pushed it all away.

  Arantay didn’t have time to feel guilty about his vampiric urges, not tonight. He didn’t have time to think about his and Brooke’s relationship. In perhaps less than an hour, he got to take revenge upon his brother.

  *

  Brooke entered the church again, Tay close behind her. She couldn’t believe how bold she’d been. Her mouth tingled, she could still feel his lips on her own.

  She’d had no control over the mission, pretty much ever since she’d left Veneseron. But choosing to kiss Tay had been something she could control.

  But she had to stop herself thinking about him now. She had to focus on the fight ahead.

  As they returned to the main hall, Tyrell was addressing everyone in the room.

  “Dark-Venators,” Tyrell said. “They are agents of chaos and madness, taught only to hurt, kill and cause destruction wherever they go. The twisted Masters at Velkarath have revealed to them the darkest of secrets, the darkest of magic’s. Often the Rakarn are driven insane, either from the mental and physical trauma they go through, or by the black arts they’ve been subjected too. Velkarath warps those who live there, twists them right down to the soul. The Dark-Venators live amongst demons and some are even bound to them by a magic bond. An atrocity I cannot even imagine. The worst of the Rakarn are almost demonic themselves. Be weary of any tricks they might play. They often pretend to be harmless or scared children, but they’re just waiting to strike you down when you least expect it. Do not be fooled and do not let them capture you at any cost. They torture their victims endlessly before they kill them, and if they do not kill you, they will take you back to Velkarath; a place worse than death.”