The Rising Moon (21 page)

I wrapped my arm around him. We kissed long and gentle kisses. His scent spun around me, rich and fresh. It reminded me of the scent of the forest on a bright sunshine day. The smell of sandalwood and juniper mixed with the warmth of the sun.

“
I love you. I love you…,” he said between each flutter of kisses.

I pulled myself up, resting on my elbows, and ran my hand along the side of his face. His eyes lured me in deeper. My heart raced faster. I thought he was the most beautiful man I had ever seen.

He leaned toward me, ran his fingers along the line of my back, and began to brush soft kisses along the side of my neck. The power of his lips, like a butterfly wing, made me feel emotions I never felt before. A strange, enticing warm feeling flowed through my body as I pulled him closer and surrendered to his kisses, to his touch, and his love…

From behind the opened window, I could tell that dawn was fast approaching. Adam would have to leave and I will be left alone with my thoughts. I knew Emi was out there waiting for the moment to destroy us both. I couldn’t bear to see history repeat itself again.

“
Why don’t you turn me into a vampire? My blood will be cold and dead and the Ulric’s will no longer have the need for it and maybe then, they’ll leave us alone.” I said.

He looked upset, “Don’t ask for such foolish things.”

I didn’t understand why he was so upset. It’s not as if I was merely a normal human. He sat up and brushed my hair behind my ear. “I can’t turn you into a vampire, because you’ll die.”

“
I’m a werewolf. I come from a strong Lobison bloodline. I’m sure I can handle the blood of a vampire.”

“
I’m not willing to take the chance. Werewolves can’t turn into vampires, just as vampires can’t turn into werewolves. It simply doesn’t happen. Our blood become poison when they’re mixed.”

I took a deep breath and sighed loudly. Adam pulled me close. I wrapped my leg around his and kissed him before placing my head on his chest. He ran his fingers through my hair. “Rest easy, my love. No one is going to keep us apart,” he said.

I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

I awoke with my face pressed against the pillow. Adam was gone, but his sweet scent remained. I overslept. Anne had already brought in my breakfast while I slept. I got up to taste the food and it was cold. My head heart so bad, I couldn’t eat or drink. I climbed back into bed and closed my eyes. But when I closed them, haunting visions flashed through my mind. I saw myself as a wolf. My bristled white fur was covered in blood. In the opened pasture, I could see something that looked like a body. I quickly sprinted to it and saw that it was John. He was covered in blood. It was the same vision of John I had as I stood outside his porch last night.

Startled, I sat up in bed.
‘I killed him. I killed John.’

My body shook with terror. I couldn’t hide what I was. I couldn’t deny it either. I was a werewolf. There was nothing I could do to protect him. Not from Lyle or Emi. I was what I am and if my vision was correct, I couldn’t even protect him from me. I rubbed my tongue against my teeth. They were sharp. Just the mere thought of blood made the beast within me want to rip out of my skin. I cupped my head in my hands, digging my nails through my hair.

“
No! It can’t be!” I hollered as tears streamed down my face.

A slow rumble of thunder rolled overhead. Black clouds gathered outside my window. Something was strange about the clouds. They moved quickly and unsteady. I slowly climbed out of bed and walked over to the window to take a look at what was brewing outside, when the sound of my cell phone vibrating on the dresser startled me. It was Ryan.

I wiped my face and nose, “hello?”

“
Are you ok?” he asked. “Why didn’t you call me? I’ve been worried sick.”

I sniffed, “I’m sorry. I meant to call, but---”

“
Are you crying?” he interrupted.

I tried to control my voice, “no.”

“
Then what’s wrong?”

“
I just woke up with a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, that’s all.” I replied, “How’s John? Have you checked in on him?”

“
I had Tyler and some of the guys keep watch over night but I haven’t heard from them. But don’t worry. No news is always good news.”

“
I have to see him,” I said as a flash of lightning tore through the sky. “I want to make sure he’s ok.”

∞∞∞∞

I nervously waited for Adam to come. The vision of John became more intense with every waking minute. Not even the book I held in my hands while I waited in the library could take my mind off it.

John lying in the ground covered in blood. It felt so real. He looked like Kima did the day Ryan and I found her in the woods.

Footsteps approached from behind, “There you are.”

My heart skipped a beat at the sight of Adam as he appeared beside me. I crashed into his arms and nestled my face against his chest. I was broken, anxious, and delighted all at once. I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. I sunk deeper into his embrace and sobbed.

“
Are you alright?” His face was filled with concern. I looked into his crystal, blue eyes and shook my head. “Tell me, love,” he held my soaked face in his hand and wiped away the tears with his thumbs, “what’s the matter?”

“
I think something terrible has happened to John,” my voice cracked. “We need to return to Lander, tonight.”

I wasn’t sure if Lyle and Emi had returned or if they were the ones responsible for hurting John, but I was sure of my vision and the ache I felt inside the pit of my stomach.

“
Have they returned?” he asked.

I shook as the vision of blood and the sound of tearing flesh flashed through my mind. But this time, when the vision flashed through my mind, I saw another wolf. A tall black wolf with green eyes---it was Lyle. I nodded and quickly his eyes turned dark as night.

“
I’ll make them pay for what they’ve done. I promise.” His hand touched my hair and pushed back a strand. “Soon this nightmare will be over.”

∞
chapter 25 ∞

“
COME IN,” Ani smiled, as she held the door open. “Ryan called a few minutes ago and said he’s on his way.” She removed a shirt that was lying on the sofa and tossed it into a room. “Please excuse the mess. I’ve been working double shifts at the hospital and I haven’t had time to keep the house clean. Have a seat while I’ll go and get you something to drink,” she said with a smile.

Adam and I sat on the large black sofa. Seconds later, Ryan walked in with a huge smile.

He hung his hat on a hook near the door, “Hey Lia. Adam.” he said. He extended his hand, shook Adam’s hand and then took a seat between us.

“
Have you heard from Tyler? Is John okay?” I asked breathlessly.

“
I spoke with them about forty-five minutes ago. He said John’s fine,” he assured. “Relax, will you?”

“
He’s right, Lia. All this worrying isn’t good for you.” Ani said, as she walked into the living room carrying a tray of soda and plastic cups.

“
Thank you.” Adam said as Ani passed him a cup of soda.

“
I can’t help it,” I said, as I took a sip. “I had an unsettling vision this morning and I can’t seem to get it off my mind.”

Ani’s eyes opened wide, “what did you see?”

“
John.” I said immediately and turned to look at Ryan, “he looked like Kima did, the day we found her in the woods.”

Perhaps it was the memory of Kima lying in a pool of blood or her bloodied face, but Ryan’s face changed instantly. I wanted to tell him I believed Lyle and Emi were back, but I didn’t have to because by the way his eyes shifted into the color of tiny dark pearls I knew he felt the same.

“
So they’re---,” Ryan began to say. I nodded. He pushed himself to his feet, grabbed the phone out of the back pocket of his blue jeans and quickly dialed Tyler’s number. My leg began to shake.

We all looked at Ryan with eyes wide open waiting for Tyler to answer the phone, but the call went straight to voice mail.

“
Let me try Kevin,” He said as he began to dial. Seconds later…‘
Yo! You’ve reached Kevin Blackfeather…,’
Ryan closed his phone. Something was terribly wrong and he sensed it,

“
We should go and make sure everything’s alright,” suggested Adam.

“
Let’s go, but Lia, I think you should stay here.”

“
No way!” I shouted. “I’m going too.”

Adam reached for me, “It may not be safe for you to go. Please, my love, stay here.”

“
They’re right, it’s best for you to stay.” Ani agreed.

It was three against one. I frowned with defeat and planted myself back on the sofa.

Ani blessed Ryan with a prayer for protection and gave her nephew a hug, “Be careful son,” she said. Ryan rushed to the door and swung it open.

We were all taken back with shock at what we saw. Tyler and Kevin pushed their bruised bodies up the stairs. They looked as if they fought against a freight train and lost. Adam hissed at the sight of their blood filled wounds.

Ryan shoved him against the wall, “Try to control yourself batty or get the hell out of here,” he threatened with his fist. I made my way between them and asked Adam softly, if he didn’t mind waiting outside. He retracted his expanded fangs and sprinted off the porch. Tyler and Kevin were beaten badly. Their clothes hung to their body in shreds. Ani and I carried Kevin inside while Ryan held on to Tyler.

“
What happened?” Ryan asked.

Kevin coughed up bloody saliva and placed a knuckle to his nostril, to stop the bleeding. He plummeted into the couch and barely had the strength to move let alone speak. “After you called, John came out of the cabin and drove up to the Ulric’s ranch.” He flinched when Ani placed an ice pack on the huge knot on his forehead, “We followed him there. At first, everything was cool. He went to the cabin and loaded some boxes onto the back of his pickup truck. After awhile Emi and her Lobison brother appeared out of nowhere. She asked him for Lia, but John told her that he hasn’t seen her. The little witch didn’t believe him. She said she could smell Lia on him. He insisted he didn’t know where she was. The witch then shouted some weird words and the wolf leaped and tore his throat.”

I gasped. My heart raced as I fought to breathe. My vision had come true. I wanted to scream, hit something---I was furious. The beast inside me wanted to rip out and kill Emi and Lyle for what they had done.

“
They got him man,” Tyler said. “I’m sorry cuz. We shifted and tried to save him, but the Lobison was too strong.”

Kevin rose to his feet. The knot on his head was gone, and the gash on his cheek sealed. Tyler cracked his knuckles and stood beside Kevin. His strength had returned as well. Aside from their torn clothes no sign of their struggle against Lyle remained.

“
We need to go back and get John, before they kill him,” I cried. This time I wasn’t going to be talked out of it. I walked to the door when Ryan sprinted past me and blocked my exit.

“
You’re not going.” Ryan annoyingly insisted.

My eyes burnt with anger, “Don’t you see that they’re using John as bait? It’s me who they really want.” I crossed my arms, “step aside, Ryan and let me through.”

“
Ryan’s right. You should …” Tyler began to say.

“
I’m going and that’s that,” I snapped. Ryan opened his mouth to protest my decision, than clamped it shut when he saw the fire in my eyes. My mind was made up and no one was going to stand in my way…no one.

“
Fine,” he mumbled under his breath.

Emi was aware of my friendship with Ryan so Kevin and Tyler stayed behind in case they decide to show up at the Rez. Ryan, Adam and I headed for the ranch.

The air in the truck was thick as the silence stretched between us. Each of us lost in our thoughts. I looked out the window at the people as we drove through town. I wished I could be like them. This time last year life was simple. Although I always felt different, I was happy believing vampires and werewolves only existed in movies and fictional stories, and now not only was I werewolf, but one who’s in love with a vampire. So much has changed since Veena’s death. The people I believed were my friends are now my enemies. And the people I avoided during my years in high school were now my closest friends. It’s amazing how quickly your life can change.