Ties To The Blood Moon

by Robin P. Waldrop

  Chapter 53

  After I downed the two bags of blood William brought me, I nuzzled my face against his chest, feeling intoxicated and satisfied. Even though I had to fight to stay awake, I didn’t want to lose the euphoric feeling that came over me each time I ate.

  “We’re leaving at dawn,” William said, out of the blue.

  I stumbled, trying to sit up. “What?” I asked, giving him a confused look. The room started spinning and I had to lie back down.

  “Rest,” he said, stroking my hair. “When you wake up I’ll fill you in on everything.

  When I closed my eyes I saw Joseph, so I quickly opened them and I was in another place. It was sprinkling rain as Joseph walked along the top of a cliff. He was wearing nothing but a pair of tight blue jeans and brown leather work boots. I watched the rain roll over his taut muscles.

  Every time he moved, new muscles bulged, dancing under his skin. He shook his soaking wet hair, sending water in every direction. He gazed at me, parting his full lips, and I waited for him to say something, but he didn’t. As I walked closer, I saw the water on his face wasn’t rain, but tears. He mouthed the words “I love you” just before diving off the cliff.

  I turned to run and saw my aunt holding hands with Zane, and waving good-bye at my mom and me. You know, like the television families who have perfect children and perfect lives and everybody lives happily ever after.

  Zane and my aunt got into a car and as they drove away, he rolled his window down and tossed something out. I’m not sure why, but I ran to get a closer look. I screamed when I saw he had cut off my aunt’s head and threw it out the window.

  I bolted upright in bed panting heavily, my eyes flitted around the room. William picked up on my heartbeat and he burst through the door in a flash. My heart jumped when Joseph appeared a few seconds later.

  “What’s wrong?” William asked earnestly, glancing around the room, then fixing his gaze on me. Joseph stood to the side, trying to see into the room.

  I sort of fell into a trance when I saw them both together. I had such deep feelings for them both, but I knew I belonged with William, now more than ever. I could never be with a human, or in Joseph’s case, a werewolf. I just couldn’t bear to watch helplessly as someone I loved eventually died while I remained the same young Genevieve.

  “Uh…I had a nightmare. It was awful,” I said with quick short breaths.

  William stared at me for a long moment. “It happens sometimes with bagged blood. Sorry,” William said, acting a little short with me. “Come down stairs, we’re going over the plan.” He promptly disappeared from the doorway, and Joseph looked at me, quickly tilting his head and shrugging his shoulders, before following after William.

  “Uh…yeah,” I replied warily. “I’ll be right…,” I trailed off. It wouldn’t have mattered what I said, because William hadn’t waited around to hear it.

  Luna and Joseph sat at the bar and William stood behind it. Luna was laughing, but when she saw me step through the door, she suddenly stopped. Even William’s smile faded when he saw me.

  “Why do I suddenly feel like an intruder?” I asked dubiously, searching their faces, and caught Luna rolling her eyes when she thought I wasn’t looking.

  “Maybe it’s just your own insecurities,” Luna said, shrugging her shoulders.

  When she said that, I flew across the room in a blur. I knew I was getting much faster, because William barely had time to move before I stopped an inch from Luna.

  “Let me tell you something right now,” I said through gritted teeth, pointing my finger at her chest. “I don’t need you to remind me this whole thing is because of me, but it’s not something I chose. It was chosen for me, just like the twins going to Tok. I didn’t have a choice in that decision either. You were there, too, and I sure don’t remember hearing you object.”

  I guess William thought I was getting too close to Luna, because he tried to step in between us. I was so angry and hurt, I felt the skin on my face tighten, and I shoved him so hard he flew all the way across the room, hitting the hearth on the fireplace.

  I gasped, and ran to him. “I’m sorry,” I said throwing myself on the floor next to him. I expected him to be really pissed, and by their speeding heartbeats, I assumed Luna and Joseph did too.

  William just lay with his back against the fireplace hearth and stared at me for the longest time.

  “William?” I asked, nervously.

  “Damn, girl,” he said, appearing to be in awe.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push you that hard. Please don’t be mad,” I pleaded.

  A huge smile stretched across William’s face. He quickly got to his feet and pulled me up. “Mad? I’m impressed! I had no idea you would grow to be so strong, especially this fast.” He looked passed me to Luna and Joseph. “We’re definitely ready.”

  We sat at the table and went over the plan until we had each individual step memorized. William said we were as ready as we’d ever be. Luna slowly came around, and by the time we were ready to go she was over being angry with me. She apologized for blaming me and I apologized for getting in her face the way I did.

  Joseph’s phone rang. “It’s grandfather,” he said, hurrying to get up from the table. He came back a couple minutes later, holding his hand over the phone. “He says there’s been movement in the tunnels,” Joseph said, looking at William.

  “Okay then. What are we waiting for? Let’s go kick some lycan ass!” William rose from the table.

  Joseph returned his phone to his jeans pocket. “I’m with you, Bro.”