The Rising Moon (9 page)

Although I was capable, he insisted on helping me dismount. I smiled and bashfully enjoyed the novel feeling of being lifted down. I quickly lowered my face to cover the rush of red that filled my cheeks.

"I hope you’re hungry," he said dropping his backpack on the ground.

"A little bit. Why?" I asked curiously watching as he opened the backpack and pulled out a red-checkered blanket.

"I packed us a picnic," he grinned removing two paper bags and a small cooler from his bag.

I smiled in shock. How sweet is this and how wrong Ryan was to think ill of him. We nestled on the soft blanket spread out on the ground. He caught my eye and smiled as he handed me a sandwich of white cheese and crusty French bread. He also brought along some red luscious apples.

He took a hard bite off the apple. I nibbled on the bread and tried to study the distant twinkle of the stars but then I felt his glare.

"This isn't at all how the fable goes," he said, breaking the silence between us.

"What are you talking about?"

"Little Red and the big bad wolf.” He said big bad wolf in a low tone trying to sound scary. We both laughed at his foolishness. “She was the one who carried the picnic basket not the wolf," he said with a simper smile as he lifted the hood of my sweater over my head. We both laughed.

The food was barely half eaten when he took my hand and led me through the break in the darkened forest. We sat on the long dry grass surrounded by the scents of lavenders and jasmines. We stared openly at the starlit night. Twigs snapped in the darken distance, crickets moved with short hurried movements from their tread, and a black bird gave an occasional cry as he soared overhead.

I turned to look at him. He seemed harmless as he lied beside me lost in the mysterious allure of the dark sky. I sighed loudly and wrapped my arms around my knees pulling them close to my chest.

"Where are you Lia?" he asked staring up at me. “I can’t help but feel you’re far from me.”

"What do you mean?" I replied. "I'm right beside you."

"I mean in your thoughts. You seem distant. Are you not enjoying yourself?”

I looked at him. My cheek pressed on my knees. He raised his brow waiting for my reply.

"I am. It’s just…I was thinking about something my friend told me."

“
What did your friend say?”

I pressed my lips and looked away. I didn't want to tell him, but I also couldn't hide the fact that I was uneasy and unable to enjoy this romantic star filled night with him.

"He told me I should stay away from you.” I shook my head, and rolled my eyes.

He laughed, “You’re talking about the friend I met this afternoon?” I could tell by the look in his face that he wasn't upset, but please that Ryan was intimidated by him. "Well of course he would tell you that. He’s in love with you.” His eyes were bright as the stars, “and I don’t blame him.”
He leaned close, and stroked my face and throat like a blind man. I don’t know why, maybe it was rebellion against Ryan, but I closed my eyes and allowed his curious fingers to explore my cheek, forehead, nose, and gently part my lips. I swallowed hard and opened my eyes. I stared lost into his eyes that radiated in the moonlight like two juicy olives.

He lowered the hood of my jacket, “I’m glad you didn’t listen to him.” And then he pressed his lips on mine. It was soft and gentle at first, then more demanding as we both tumbled into the moment.

He slowly pulled away from me to catch his breath. I too struggled to breathe. I’ve never been kissed like that before. Even when Ryan and I shared the kiss that brought about awkwardness into our friendship, I never felt what I felt now while kissing Lyle.

I sighed deeply, lost in the moment, and at a loss of words. He smiled at me and I blushingly smiled back. He took my hand in his and fell into the blanket. I followed and lied beside him. Both of us quiet, staring at the sky. Our fingers entwined as he gently rubbed his thumb on the top of my hand in a circular motion that caused a surge of electricity to run through my body. He rolled on his side resting on his elbow. I lifted my hand to his hair burying my fingers in his strands, enjoying their slightly coarse texture. He smiled with his eyes closed, enjoying every touch.

The evening felt colder as the time drew close to midnight. I shivered. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the chilled breeze or the intensity that built within me.

“
I can take you home if you like,” he said.

But I didn’t want to leave. John wasn’t home or if he were home, he’d probably be drunk or asleep in front of the TV.

I shook my head. He seemed pleased.

He wrapped his arm around me and breathed in the scent of my hair. I felt his warm breath on my face as he held me against his chest. I felt warm, calm. My eyes felt heavy as I listened to the nocturnal sounds of nature.

When suddenly I found myself face to face with the werewolf I’ve seen many times in my dreams.

“
At last we’re together again, as it was meant to be,” he said with a subtle howl. His glowing eyes were human. “Take my hand and come with me. You shouldn’t deny who you are.”

White bristled hair streamed down my arm as our hands touched. My heart rapidly picked up speed, beating in an unfamiliar rhythm. I looked at my hands and saw my nails grow long and thick. The change happened quickly. I dropped to the ground a wolf. I opened my mouth to yell but a long howl came out instead.

My eyelids popped wide.

“
It’s ok,” Lyle said. “I’m here with you. I had fallen asleep in his arms.

“
What happened?” I asked.

“
You had a dream,” he said as he brushed his hand through my hair.

I was still shaken. I lifted my head and glanced at my arms. Skin. Human skin. I flexed my fingers. I was relieved to see human limbs. Lyle stared at me. No doubt, he must’ve thought I was crazy.

“
Are you ok?” he asked.

“
Have you ever had a dream that felt so real that when you woke up you wondered if it really just happened?

“
Sure. All the time.” His replied shocked me.

“
You do?” I gasped.

“
Some call it a gift, others a curse.”

“
I call it a curse,” I blurted, feeling a swell of frustration.

“
Tell me your dream,” he insisted. I paused a bit and began to tug at the cuff of my sleeve. “You can trust me.”

I took a deep breath, and told him about the werewolf and about how I turned into one at the touch of his hand.

“
You must think I’m nuts,” I muttered.

“
I don’t think you’re nuts,” he offered me a small smile. I rolled my eyes and looked away from him.

“
You would make a beautiful werewolf, with those pretty eyes and gorgeous mouth,” he said, resting his forehead against mine. The next thing I knew, we were kissing again.

Did he know what I was? Should I tell him? I opened my eyes and found him staring at me. His face was flushed and his eyes glowed in the darkness. Their glow…it was familiar. It was the eyes of the werewolf in my dream.

∞
Chapter 12 ∞

HE PULLED AWAY from me.

“
Your eyes,” I stuttered. I grabbed his arm and held it tight. “Lyle, look at me.” When he turned, his eyes were his own again.

“
I should take you home,” he said. He pulled me up on my feet and walked me over to Star. Suddenly, a strong wind blew past us, nearly knocking me to the ground. It made an irregular, grieving, rushing sound. Its sound made the horses restless. I had to grab hold of Star tightly, in order not to fall off her. Lyle stared at the direction of the wind and tilted his head as though he understood its unrestrained outcry.

"I have to go home right away," he said as he quickly leaped unto Storm.

"What is it?" I asked, but he didn't answer.

He took off in the direction of his grandmother’s house. I trailed rapidly close behind, as the tree branches bent over the fierce winds, making it easier to swift through.

The sounds of screams blasted through the walls of the house. Ramira’s yells could be heard outside as we quickly dismounted the horses and ran inside. I followed Lyle up the stairway and through the narrow hall into Ramira’s bedroom. I’ve never been to her room before. It felt strange. Her room didn’t have the feel of a bedroom, but that of a hospital. Dressers and armoire were replaced with beeping machines and rubbery hoses that were connected to her body.

“
Grandma!” Lyle’s voice cracked as he flew to her side. He held her small fragile hands with care as tears began to fill his eyes, “what happened?”

“
I don’t know what happened. She was asleep and suddenly she began shouting,” replied Emi. Her face was as pale as her grandmother’s.

“
Help me lift her up so I can give her these pills,” Fenix told Lyle. They tried to lift her up but she grew more restless. She twisted beneath their grip. Her body shook and her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

“
Grandma,” Emi whimpered. I grabbed her arm and walked her to an armchair that sat near the end of the bed. I gently brushed my hand through her hair. Her head felt hot.

During one of Ramira’s shrieking outcries, Fenix placed the pills into her mouth. “Swallow the pills grandma, it’ll make you feel better,” he told her, but she spat them out. Ramira hummed and shrieked as if she was possessed. The scene was like something out of a horror movie.

“
He’s coming!” she squealed. “I could smell the coagulated blood that flows through his body, growing stronger.” She sniffed loudly, twitching her head side to side taking in long whiffs of air.

I looked over to Lyle, confused. I didn’t know what or whom she was talking about, but Lyle and his brother’s attention were on their grandmother and on what she was saying as if they knew exactly who she was referring to.

She looked my way with her eyes opened wide. She flinched and began to gag and choke. Frothy saliva dripped out of her mouth and hung from her chin like a long thread. Lyle wiped her chin and tried to lay her back on the bed, but she fought him.

“
Do something!” Emi shouted at her brothers, “She’s going to die!”

I kneeled beside her, “She’s going to be alright.”

Ramira stiffened at the sound of my voice. Her once white eyes now shown like two shiny onyx as she stared at me.

“
You!” she shouted rabidly, pointing her crooked finger at me. She turned her attention to Lyle. “It’s you! Can’t you fools see that Zaria’s returned? Can’t you see if she’s here, Adam will be too? You must destroy her before it is too late!”

The room became quiet. Cold. Everyone’s eyes were on me. I slowly rose to my feet, scared to death. I felt like a deer staring into the hunter’s gun. Nausea ripped through me as I crashed on the wall for support. Ramira fixed her smoky eyes to Emi and began to chant unfamiliar words. Emi shivered and un-blinkingly met her gaze taking in whatever spell Ramira was casting on her.

When Ramira stopped, Emi stood up from the chair with a distant look in her eyes. I walked over to Lyle, feeling the cold chill of Emi’s and Fenix’s stare on the back of my head.

“
I think I should leave.”

“
I’ll walk you,” replied Lyle with no hesitation.

“
You should stay. Your family needs you,” I insisted. But he didn’t listen. He put his arm around me, protectively and closed the door behind us.

We didn’t talk much as we walked to the cabin. Even the black bird that flew overhead didn’t crow. I looked over at Lyle, but he kept his head down.

“
Lyle,” I said trying to break the silence between us. “Who’s Adam?”

He stopped on his tracks and raised his head, “No one.”

I doubted that was true.

“
I feel you’re not telling me the truth. I thought I meant something to you but obviously I was wrong.” I turned away, but his hand on my arm stilled me.

“
You mean more to me then you’ll ever know.” Lyle reached for my hand and held it tight. It felt cold and sweaty. “Maybe your friend was right. You should stay away from me.”

“
What?” I squeezed his hand, “why?”

“
There’s something about me, that you don’t know,” he said. I thought back to earlier tonight when his eyes glowed like the werewolf I saw in my dreams. “I’m not like regular men…”

“
And I’m not like regular women.” I interrupted. I felt I could tell him what I was. I could burden him with everything and he would understand. “I know what you are, Lyle.”