The Rising Moon (23 page)

He looked at my neck. “Did I…?”

“
No...” I struggled to speak as I fought for consciousness.

Adam sprinted over to Lyle, knocked him to the ground and picked him up by his neck, “Prepare to die, you son of a bitch!”

Lyle’s body twitched as Adam’s grip around his neck tightened, his long finger nails stabbed into his fur. Emi screamed and Adam tossed Lyle to the ground. He sprinted over to Emi but she disappeared before He could unleash his fiery on her too.

Lyle leaped and sunk his sharp teeth unto Adam’s shoulder. They rolled on the ground. I was unable to see who had the upper hand in the struggle, when suddenly Adam opened his mouth, stretched his fangs and buried his face into Lyle’s throat. He held him for a few minutes while Lyle fought to get him off. He was in between a wolf and man form as he struggled to stay alive. Finally, Adam reached out with both hands and snapped his neck. He fell to the ground, shook a bit, and then was still. Emi appeared beside her brother in a flash. She pulled him into her arms; his body lay lifeless and pale. She cried begging him to wake up, but he didn’t.

Adam started to make his way to me, but collapsed to the ground after taking two steps. He spat up blood and moaned in pain. I dragged by body along the ground when something black rushed past me in a blur of motion. The dark shape soared toward Emi and Lyle. She saw it approaching and vanished with Lyle in her arms before it could reach them.

“
Adam? Where are you?” I desperately patted the ground, trying to find where he was, when I felt a cold hand grab mine.

“
Lia,” he moaned as he gave my hand a gentle squeeze. I pulled my body up to his, when I felt his body shift away.

“
Get the hell away from her!” Ryan tossed Adam’s frail body away from me. “I knew you couldn’t be trusted. You were supposed to protect her, not bite her!” He shouted as he vigorously continued to kick Adam on his side.

Adam swiftly leaped to his feet, wrapped his fingers around Ryan’s neck and pinned him against a tree. “I did protect her.”

But Ryan wasn’t buying it. He kicked Adam in the stomach and when he was down, he kicked him once again, but this time, on the side of his face.

“
Stop it!” I shrieked. My vision was still foggy when I felt the gentle stare of Adam’s eyes on me.
Look at me
, they said. I pushed myself to where he was, leaving a trail of blood behind me. I reached for his hand, but he snatched it away. Adam was weak and my blood was tempting. Ryan bent over him with glowing eyes, “If you love her and
really
want to protect her then you would leave. Can’t you see you can’t tame your hunger?”

“
Please, don’t go.” I breathed out desperately. “I love you.” His dark eyes were filled with hunger and sorrow as he slowly stood on his feet.

Tears streamed down my face when I realized that he wasn’t going to stay. Ryan helped me to my feet, still blinded and weak I tried to reach for him, but he vanished taking my heart with him.

My knees gave way. Ryan caught me before I could fall.

“
It’s ok. I’m here,” he said.

My body went into shock, perhaps from the loss of blood, or from losing the man I loved. I felt dizzy, sweaty… “Hang on,” Ryan begged as my body convulsed. “Please!” He popped open his shirt and began to rip it. He wrapped my neck and wrist with the shredded fabric to keep me from bleeding to death.

∞∞∞∞

I awoke to the gentle sounds of rain drops outside the window. I tried to sit up, but my head hurt so bad I couldn’t move. I could hear someone snoring from somewhere in the room. I carefully pulled myself up and instantly Kima opened her eyes.

“
You’re awake,” she said as she flew to my side.

“
Where am I?” I mouthed slowly.

“
You’re at Ani’s house.” She helped me back down.

On the side of the bed was a wooden table with some medical supplies. Kima lifted my right arm and peeled a bandage crusted with dried blood. She gently wiped it with an ointment and replaced the bandage. She did the same to my neck.

“
What happened?” I asked.

“
Try not to think about that right now. What’s important is that we bring down your fever.” She replied ignoring my question. She carefully pulled the blanket up to my chin, “I’ll be right back. I’m going to tell Ani you’re awake.”

I closed my eyes trying to see if I could somehow channel some kind of memory of what had happened. But my mind was blurred mess. All I saw was a flash of images that terrified me. Claws, fangs and blood---lots of blood. I forced my eyes open.

Ani walked into the room with a smile as bright as the moon on a dark spring night. “How are you sweetie?”

I gave her a faint smile. She placed her hand on my forehead.

“
Your fever’s still high.” She handed me two tiny pills and a cup of water, “this’ll help bring it down.”

“
What happened to me? Why am I here?” I asked handing her the empty cup.

“
You don’t remember?” Ani asked.

I shook my head.

“
Three days ago, you, Adam and Ryan went to the Ulric ranch to rescue John from Emi and her brother,” she replied.

“
How’s John? Is he safe now?”

She pulled the covers up to my chin and tucked the blanket tightly around my body, “Yes, so try not to worry yourself about him. He’s in great hands and will be good as new in no time.” She turned to Kima, “I promised Peggy I would stop by to check on John after work tonight so do you mind staying with Lia another night?”

“
No problem.” She replied with a smile.

“
I really appreciate it. You’ve been a great help.”

“
Thank you,” Kima’s eyes beamed.

After Ani left, Kima pulled the curtains together and once again got comfortable on the chair that stood in the corner of the room.

“
Can I ask you something?” I asked.

“
Sure. What’s up?”

“
Where’s Adam? Why isn’t he here?”

“
Adam?” she asked with a blank look on her face.

“
Yes, Adam. Don’t you remember meeting him the other night?”

She cleared her throat, “I remember.”

“
Well? Where is he?”

“
I don’t know.”

“
Did something happen to him?”

“
You should really get some rest, Lia.” She sat beside me on the bed.

“
Please Kima. Tell me. Did something happen to him?”

“
I---,” she paused for a moment. “I don’t know how to tell you this…”

I quickly sat up despite the piercing pain that rushed through my body with the sudden movement, “what is it?”

“
We don’t know where he is. No one’s seen him since the night you all went to the Ulric Ranch,” She replied.

“
What?”

“
We don’t know where he is,” she repeated. “All we know is, if Ryan didn’t get back there when he did,” she paused, “you would be dead.”

I was speechless. Confused.

A bad feeling rushed over me. Something was wrong. I knew deep in my heart that Adam wouldn’t have left me alone. Something must’ve gone terribly wrong that night at the ranch. My head hurt so bad I couldn’t remember.

That night as I slept, I returned to Sinks Canyon.

“
Adam!” My desperate cry bounced against the tall sandstone cliffs and rippled across the calm waters of the River. I climbed on a boulder and waited. The desperation of not knowing if he was alive slowly ate me inside. I wanted to see him so bad that it was sickening.

I hugged my knees and stared at the wall of trees across the canyon when suddenly, the branches shifted and a dark shadow appeared beside them. Without a thought, I leaped across the river and pushed my way through the branches and bushes. Exhausted and out of breath, I stood there looking into the eye of a bighorn sheep. I rolled my eyes at the stupid animal and hissed at it. He must’ve sensed the beast inside me because he quickly disappeared to where he came from.

∞
chapter 27 ∞

I SLEPT THROUGH THE NEXT couple of days. I refused to eat or talk. Adam once told me I called out to him in a dream, so all I wanted to do was sleep and call him once again. Sometimes Ryan would come in and sit beside me. He’d stroke my hair and watch me sleep.

Today he walked into the room bringing with him the scent of rain. He pulled a chair beside the bed and whispered, “Lia.”

I didn’t want to talk. I squeezed my eyes closed and pretended to sleep.

“
Wake up.” He gently ran his fingers down my face. “I’ve got some good news for you.” My eyes flew open. Ryan smiled at me. “It’s good to finally see those pretty blue eyes.” He said.

I rolled them and shut them closed again.

“
Can you stop being such a baby?”

“
Can you leave me alone?” I replied.

He untied his wet hair and shook his head sending drops of water everywhere.

“
You’re such a dog!” I shouted as I wiped my face with the blanket.

“
Look who’s talking,” he teased.

“
Whatever! Get out or tell me the news you have to tell me.”

“
It’s about John.”

“
What about him?” I quickly asked.

“
He’s finally able to talk and he’s asking for you.”

“
Really?” This has been the best news I’ve heard in days. I wanted to jump out of bed and go see him right away. “Can I go see him now? Let me get up and put my boots on and we can go.”

“
I don’t think it’s a good idea for him to see you like this.” He waved his hand in disgust.

I took a look at myself. He was right. I looked like crap. I must’ve been wearing the same T-shirt and sweats for days and I couldn’t remember the last time I passed a comb through my hair.

“
You’re right.” I said with a half smile.

“
Your life would be a lot easier once you accept that I’m
always
right,” he said with a big cheesy smile.

I threw a pillow at him. Unfortunately, he caught it and began to charge me with it. The door opened and Kima stood there holding a tray of food. “What are you doing?”

Ryan stiffened, wide-eyed like a deer staring unto coming head lights.

“
I was only trying to make her comfortable,” he said, fluffing up the pillow and placing it under my head.

“
You’re too kind.” I said sarcastically.

Kima tapped Ryan on the shoulder as she walked past him and placed the tray on the side table. She wasn’t easily fooled. “I’m sure Ryan has already told you about John’s recovery.”

“
How is he though?” I asked.

Kima looked over at Ryan with an expression that did not sit well in my stomach.

“
Is there something I should know that you two are not telling me?”

“
Eat, freshen up and I promise to take you to see him tomorrow morning,” Ryan replied.

“
I made this pumpkin soup for you.” Kima said pointing to the tray.

Ryan wrapped his arms around her, “My girl can cook.” Kima’s eyes blazed at the compliment, and her cheeks were flushed with color.

“
Thank you Kima.” I grabbed the bowl of soup and began to eat.

I decided to climb out of bed early the next morning and take a much needed shower. I stayed awake most of the night trying to remember what happened the night we confronted Lyle and Emi. I remembered going to the ranch. Emi toying with John and sending him crashing to the ground face first. I also remembered seeing Lyle bite John on the neck and then everything goes blank from there.

I rushed to the closet, pulled out a white blouse, jeans and quickly got dressed.