Fate of the Blood Moon's Path (12 page)

“Oh I hope not.” I smiled. “That’s the last thing I need right now.”

“I’m going to go talk to ‘em.” He said.

“You alright?” Rayna asked me, as she watched Micah walking away.

“I don’t know anymore Rayna. I can’t think about his childishness. I’ve got to focus on the council tonight and the hunt when we go out.”

“You’re right. This is who we are Angel. We go out there, and we hunt.”

“I used to be so sure of who I was and what my purpose was in life, and now I’m really second guessing everything Rayna. Everything.”

“You always wanted to get out there and kill those who killed your mother. You wanted to protect your people from harm. You went out there and you did what you had to do. You were out for blood and you wouldn’t have any less than that.”

“Yea, you’re right. That’s what it was like. Then. Now…I just don’t know.”

“But we still have to go out there Angel. Our people are here in this village, and those murders are taking place only miles away. We’re going out there and kicking some ass.” She smiled at me.

Rayna was my crutch. She has been in my life for so long now. She is also my second in command. If anything were to ever happen to me it would be her that would take charge.

What other choice do I have. For now. Just for now I have to keep my secrets. I have to keep it all inside my head. As much as I want to be honest with Rayna right now and tell her everything, I know I just can’t do that. I would be in a whole heap of trouble with my people if they were to find out. I might even be exiled if it were known that I had even spoke to a Vampyre who was beyond their own border. After protecting them for so long and being here under their acceptance and protection, I owed it to them to keep my mouth shut right now.

Angel.

6.

The Council and the Sacred Fires.

Present Time.

In the beginning for our people, there was no fire at all. The world was cold, and it was dark. Then the thunders, who lived up in the sky sent down their lightning and they put the fires into the bottom of a hallowed out Sycamore tree that had grown on an island, surrounded by water and separate from the main land.

The animals of the Great Spirit knew the fire was there. They could smell the smoke, but they could not get to it because of the water that was between them.

The animals had gathered as a council to see what it was that they should do. Every single animal that could fly or swim wanted to get out there to check things out. The Raven, who was large, and strong was sent over there to the island first. He flew over to the Sycamore tree. The flames came up through the tree scorching his feathers, and he returned to the others without fire.

The next animal that the council sent over was the Screech Owl. Once he had gone over to the island, a strong blast of hot air came up and burned out his eyes. He did manage to fly back home. To this day, his eyes are still red. Then the Hooting Owl and the Horned Owl went. When they had arrived there, the fire was burning so fiercely that the smoke that had come from the fire was blinding, and it was hard for them to see in front of them. The ashes, carried up by the wind, had made white rings around their eyes.

After that, there were no more birds that would volunteer to go over. The Snake, known as Black Racer, said that he would swim over there. He would bring the fire back. He swam his way over to the island and crawled through the grass, leading to the trees. He saw a small hole at the bottom of the tree, and slithered down it. There was too much heat. He could not bear it. It was too much for him. After dodging all the heat and slithering boldly over the hot ashes, he was almost on fire himself. He managed his way out, though his body had been scorched to blackness.

He came back and the next snake, the great black snake, The Climber, had offered to go next. He swam his way over to the island and climbed the tree from the outside, but when he put his head down into the hole at the top, the smoke had choked him so that he had fallen into the burning stump. When he had climbed out again, he too was black like the Black Racer.

After all of this, another council was held. The animals had excuses for not wanting to go over there to the island to fetch the fire. They were all afraid to go out there. At last the Water Spider said she would go over to the island to fetch the fire. She was a beautiful black spider with downy hair and red stripes on her body. She knows how to run on top of the water and dive to the bottom. She would not have trouble at all reaching the island. Her question was, how could someone as small as she, bring the fire back? “I’ll manage.” She had said. She spun herself a thread from her body and wove it into a bowl, fastening it to her back.

She crossed the great water over to the island and through the grass that lead to the Sycamore tree. Where the fire was still burning, she placed one small coal of the fire into her bowl. She came back from the island with the fire. Ever since, we have had fire. The small water spider, who made the great journey, still keeps her bowl; and shows us, that no matter how small you are, you care capable of anything.

The council members were all arriving now. The whole village was now starting to gather round. The Six had finally finished making the fire for tonight’s council meeting. As the Chief’s daughter, it was my job to greet all of the Elders and help them to be seated in their rightful spots, by the fire.

None of the Elders shifted into our watchful spirit anymore; the Wolf. It has been years since they last have. They’re hundreds of years old, like my father. They stopped shifting, but still had the magick running through them, so they may age a little, for the sake of our people, and to keep looking somewhat normal for the humans. Usually when it was time for passing, a small ritual would be held to release our wolf spirit to the spirit world, then we pass on.

The sun was just now setting down over the lake. It was a beautiful night and the clouds were rolling in over the north, and the fog was starting to roll in the forest and roll out on the ground like a blanket. Things were quiet and calm, all but the sounds of the excited heartbeats of those who were sitting here at the council.

“Welcome friends.” The head of the Elders stood wobbling in place. He looked so fragile there in his spot. “We are gathered here today because of our natural born enemy. They lay dormant for quite sometime now…it is time to defeat them for good.” There was a loud cheer from the crowd. He raised his hands to quiet them down. “We must decide tonight, and act on it as soon as we can. They can no longer inhabit these parts of the forest while we are still here.” His speech went on.

I blocked it all out. I was too focused on the forest. I knew there were eyes and ears focused on our gathering and I was trying to locate them. No one else could sense it because they were all to focused on the man speaking in front of them. I found the part of the forest they were in. Just up on the hill; once you were up there you could see down into the village through the trees. I turned and looked up, my eyes, though he was far away, still spotted him, and a few others with him.

My father stood to speak. He stood quietly for a moment until he knew he had my full attention. I nodded to him. He looked brilliant up there. It was like he was born to be in this position. He may not look a day over forty , but those of us who knew his true nature, knew that he was kind hearted and a loving man. When he spoke, all time stood still.

“We have no choice…” He liked his dramatic pauses. “We have to find the flame and put it out. There are innocent people dying…and not by our hands. Yet we are to blame. It is starting again. We will not be driven away from here! We have spent a few hundred years here without trouble from human kind. Now they look at us like we are to blame because we own the forest. They think we are here practicing devil worship and using these hikers and campers, these humans, as our sacrifices. I will not let this go on. We are fortunate enough to have hunters and trackers here. Our hybrids. They have offered their services to go out there…my daughter.” A sparkle came to his eyes as he looked over at me, motioning with his hand, “Come.” He said and reached down for me to take his hand to stand up. I gracefully flew to my feet.

I could see the image of Draven in my head, and the figures around him that I couldn’t make out, though I was listening to my father speak, and trying to figure out what it was that I would say. It was my duty to speak for me and
my
kind, the hybrids, and to let my people know our plans.

I didn’t know what to say. I had all of these doubts in my head, and I didn’t know how to make the words come out so that people would feel safe having me, Rayna, and Micah out there. I needed help. I saw Draven smile at me. I may have amazing eyesight, but I didn’t want to draw attention towards the forest where they were. I wanted the full attention on me.

“My friends…” I started to speak. I looked around at all of the faces, all watching me, all waiting to hear what I had to say. In the village there were about one hundred people, and that’s how many eyes I had on me. “For a few years now the Vampyres lay quiet not bothering us. Not bothering anybody. I am not jumping to conclusions, not yet anyways. I have my doubts, and I’m sure others do as well.” I paused. “In all my long years I have come across things that were far more evil than the Vampyres.”

I looked at the Six staring at me. James was furious with my words. “Rayna, Micah and I are going to the forest for the weekend. We will hunt. We will track. We will take down.” Everyone cheered and clapped. “We will find out what is going on and we will fix this. Our people will not need go anywhere. We’ve lived here for so long. We call this place our home, where we are free.” More cheering came from all of our people. “Tonight we celebrate our people, our kind, and our freedom. Tomorrow, we fight to keep our lands and our freedom!”

I could see Draven’s face in my minds eye. He didn’t look happy with my words either. He wanted me to stay out of the forest. I saw him try to reassure his buddies of my speech.

The drummers started their rhythmic beat and the people started dancing and this continued on into the early hours of the morning. The Six and many others were up there stomping around the fire. I could see the great spirits with the fire and in the smoke. A few of the others had shifted into wolf form and were running circles around our people, and around the dancers. They were playfully nipping at each other, running up to people and licking their faces, purposely knocking others down and then running away. It had been a very long time since we had had an event like this at the village.

For the rest of the night I stayed next to Rayna and Micah. Tomorrow we would leave to track down whatever was out there.

I could not protect all these people, but at least I could try. The rest of my people were to stay at the village where it was safe. Where they could remain safe through out the weekend while we were tracking. The forest was vast. It would take us some time.

Angel.

8.

Tracking.

Present Time.

“You know what you’re doing right?” My father asked me while watching me intently. He was pacing back and forth with his arms crossed.

“Dad,” I sighed. “Everything is going to be fine.”

“I hope you’re right.” He sighed back at me.

“You know you worry too much.” I said to him as I put my 12-gage over my shoulder.

“Yes, I do.” He said while watching me put my daggers in their sheaths on both my legs and my forearms. He shook his head and rolled his eyes at me.

“You really don’t have to worry. We don’t even know what is out there.” I looked at him. “I’m just making sure I’m ready.” I motioned to my weapons.

“I think I’m worried because I don’t know what is really out there. There is this part of me that truly thinks it’s not the Vampyres.”

“Really? I think that way too.” I said.

“I know that they are smarter than that. They would have never left the victims like that. And if they did, and wanted to pinpoint us as the killers, they would have torn the bodies up like a wild animal would.”

“They left mom laying there,” I said.

“Because I was coming for them and did not want to be around the wrath of a wolf scorned.” He smirked then frowned.

I watched my father as all of the memories came flashing back into his mind. I hated seeing him like that. I was sorry I had even brought it up.

“If it is the Vampyres, and all they want is me, I should just give myself to them. As long as they leave the rest of you alone.” I didn’t look up at him.

“No. Absolutely not. How long have we tried to keep you out of their hands and now; now you just want to hand yourself over to them. Who knows what they would do with you.”

“They wouldn’t kill me, would they?”

“Who knows what they would do Angel. I always thought that they wanted you dead. But now, I just don’t know. No one knows.” He said.

“If it comes down to it father, I will do what I feel I have to do.”

“Oh Angel…” He sighed. “Be careful.” I watched him walk away giving me one last smile. He knew I would return.

“You ready?” I heard a voice come from the front screened door. It was Rayna who was standing there dressed in all black with her many different weapons. I saw Micah standing on the stairs behind her. His nose to the air, dressed in black as well with his weapons slung over his back and around his waist.

“Yea. I’m ready.” I looked back to see my father, but he was not there. I heard the back door slam shut just as I turned to look.

I had my old faded blue jeans on and a black halter top with my long black trench coat. We all had on our combat type boots. I figured it was going to be a long weekend, so I thought I’d dress comfortably.

“Then lets get going.” I heard Micah say in an anxious tone from outside the door. I turned back to face the front door where Rayna had stood. She was silently walking down the stairs, Micah wrapped his arm around her. Some days, I prayed for something like what they had. But other days, I thought it would just get in the way.