Part 3 Tears Under the Moon

The Search for Vanessa

Dear Diary,

Today was a long day. I found out a friend was lost to me. Vanessa was very close to Catori. I can't imagine how she would feel but I will help find her. I gave her mom my word. Apparently, when she left here to go back to school she never made it on the bus. All this time she has just been gone. I hope we are able to help. I keep thinking of all the awful possibilities. I pray our Goddess Selene protects her.

Also, Chastity is back.

TB❤️

'What is the purpose of this of this diary again?' Chloe, Tabatha's wolf asked.

'It helps me to sort out my thoughts.' Tabatha said to her wolf, 'It's not like you ever talk to me anymore.'

Her wolf was silent for a moment then she mumbled 'sorry' and disappeared. Tabatha sighed Chloe was having a hard time adjusting to losing Blaine. She use to be a chatterbox always having something to say about everything. Now she only came out to ask to stretch her legs. Kevin really rubbed her wrong, at first she was thinking he would come around but when he didn't she felt the sting even more. She was broken-hearted and so was Tabatha just trying to find a way to cope.

Zion watched Chastity amused at how she studied Madan. "What is it Chastity?"

"Is he supposed to be able to do that already?" Chastity asked as Madan was sitting up reaching for her hair. "He is Lycan. Our pups are a little more advanced than the average."

Tabatha stuck her head in just as Chastity said, "Zion I wish to share something with you. Blaine came to me last night. He showed up in my cabin asking for my assistance."

Zion let out a low menacing growl, "He was in my territory!"

"Please don't be angry with me." Chastity pleaded.

"What did he want?" Zion growled.

"The book of Thai." Tabatha answered for her, "He sent Ophelia to ask me and I refused so I guess Chastity was his next option."

They both looked at Chastity, "Yes it is true he wanted me to give him the book of Thai."

"And do you know where the book is?" Zion asked.

"Yes and no. The book is warded and hidden. It calls to me though if I wanted I could find it." Chastity explained.

"Does Blaine know this?" Zion asked.

"Yes, he does because I told him. I told him I would help." Chastity said.

"You what!" Tabatha shrieked.

"For an exchange the book for his mother." Chastity explained.

Tabatha growled thinking why had I not thought of that? Aphena left a bad taste in her mouth.

"I am sorry Zion but Aphena murdered my mother and left me for dead when I was first born. This is how I came to be in the possession of the rogue king. He used a spell and cut my heart out so that I could never leave him. My mother came to Catori her soul is trapped in the book of Thai. Her soul was her offering to the book to save me. My mother's only wish is for me to kill Aphena if she did not change her ways. She has not changed in the least. She is still terrorizing and she killed Tabatha's pup she deserves to die."

"Wait what?" Tabatha looked confused.

"You did not know?" Chastity's face saddens, "Catori told me that Aphena is the reason your pup died she was trying to persuade Blaine to her side."

Tabatha's eyes blinked rapidly and Zion barely reached her side before her knees went weak.

Zion gave her a worried look asking, "Tabatha, are you okay?"

Tabatha's head was spinning. Would Blaine truly protect the woman that stole her pup?

"I think I can use the book to protect Mystic as it was meant to protect Zerion." Chastity was explaining as Tabatha's thoughts began to swarm. 'She is lying he would not do that!' Chloe growled angrily.

'Chastity is not a liar and you know it, Chloe. Stop defending him, he killed Catori, he betrayed the pack, and now...' Tabatha had that was trying to take deep breaths to control all her feelings.

Zion lifted Tabatha placing her in a chair. "I was with him. I just don't understand how he could allow her to get away with everything. I think I'm going to be sick."

Tabatha reached for a nearby trash can and Chastity pulled her hair back as she vomited. When Kade and Richard walked in Richard immediately began to gag. "Wus," Kade said as Richard ran from Zion's office, and headed for the bathroom.

Zion looked at his Beta and he could tell he had a rough night, understandable. At least he knew where his mate was though he thought. Kade pretended not to be affected when Vanessa left but everyone knew the booze and women were his way of covering up his pain.

"Good morning Dad," Zion said to Lucas, the former Alpha of Mystic Moon. He had volunteered his special abilities to help find Vanessa's whereabouts. Alpha Lucas could touch objects and see a vision from the past if an impression was left. It was a long shot but Zion felt it was worth a try. "Morning son so who will be joining us?"

"I was thinking you and Kade could go with me, while Tabatha Chastity and River worked on getting the ingredients for the spell and Richard can hold the ship down while we are gone."

"Sounds like a plan." Kade said ready to get it over with, "I'll meet you outside." Lucas followed Kade out.

"Chastity I understand your ultimatum to Blaine thank you for telling me." Zion stood when Chastity spoke, "The funny thing is as I told Blaine the book wished to be returned to Zerion and Catori had every intention of doing so but when he did what he did he sentenced his people to death just like his mother. Funny how history repeats itself."

Zion just nodded, he looked at Tabatha as she wiped her mouth. "Tabatha I'm sorry you had to learn things this way. I don't want Blaine in my territory. If you wish for your kids to see him it needs to be done outside Mystic Moon if I or any member of my pack see him. He will be killed immediately. I think there is a choice you need to make. Let me know when your decision is made."

Tabatha just nodded as Zion left the room. Once River arrived they all headed to Chastity's cabin. "I have most of the items. But there are a few things still needed." Chastity was explaining.

"Just give me the list." River snapped, he had been a grouch since Chastity explained that she and George had been fooling around.

River snatched the list and took off leaving them alone. "Hey River where you headed?" Zara asked coming in from a run.

"You went on a run alone? Zion forbade that for a reason!"

"I know but my wolf really needed to stretch. Plus most of the Vargis have moved on to the human territory they are easier prey." Zara said shifting back into her human form. She ducked behind a tree to change.

"How do you know this?" River asked as Zara came to stand before him. With raised eyebrows, she just stared at him until it clicked.

"Oh yeah, the whole smell thing." River shrugged and Zara just nodded.

"So you coming or what." River walked on and Zara followed behind him.

"Sure I have nothing better to do." Zara followed behind River neither did much talking. After they reached a certain point Zara stopped looking around.

"What is it?"

"Oh nothing, I have never been this far in the forest before." Zara noticed the different scents taking them all in.

She followed quietly observing. When they arrived near the dark Forrest River looked at her, "Look these ladies can be intense. Do not accept the gifts they offer you sometimes they trick you this way. We are leaving here only with what we paid for also do not allow them to have samples of your hair or give them anything on your person. Do you understand?"

Zara shook her head nervously as she stayed close to the handsome hybrid leading her. "How do you know so much about witches?"

Now, River gave her the same look she had given him earlier. "Oh yeah, that. How is that working out for you?"

"She was not mine so she can give herself to who she wants." River said referring to Chastity, "I wish she wouldn't shut me out. There that is where we are going." He pointed to a bunch of picnic tables lined with goods.

"Hello River, Zara." The witch said as they approached. Zara looked at River thinking how does she know my name?

"I would like to purchase these items." River handed her the list.

"I will give you the items for a strand of both your hair." She said smiling.

"No thank you I will pay." River said curtly.

"Smart one fine it will cost you." The witch said gathering the items. River paid her and they were on their way.

"What would she have done with our hair?"

"Oh, they make dolls that can control you or hex bags, normally nothing good comes from a witch with your hair." River explained.

"Can you tell me what it was like going places with the Luna?" Zara didn't mean to sound like a groupie but the thought of other dimensions was fascinating to her.

River was quiet at first then he said "There is a place called Goragin and it's like freaking dinosaurs there. Like some real prehistoric s**t. Catori had to go there once because they were getting close to extinction. There are cavemen there, and I met a Cyclops. They actually exist. I thought it was like old lore you know? One of the Cyclops tried to bash my head in because his daughter was drooling over me, Catori turned him into dust." River was very animated when he explained things and Zara clung to his every word. "River, what are you?" Zara asked, "I know you have no wolf."

"I'm a shifter, I can be whatever. I know there seems to be this big mystery about what I am

Honestly, I like it reminds me of Catori. Makes me feel in a way that we are the same. I miss her."

"So how do you know your mate when you find her?" Zara asked, causing River to frown.

"I won't, which is best I don't think a mate would want me. Most likely they will reject me."

"I agree," Zara blurted out, "No I mean." Zara stammered over her words.

"It's okay I know what you mean. If you were my mate would you regret me?" River asked.

"Yes, I would. I could feel the witch's feelings for you. She could end me so easily and then there are your children and girlfriend under the sea." Zara was explaining as she walked beside him all the while admiring how attractive he was.

"She is not my girlfriend." River said flatly.

"Well, what is she? Wait before you answer that just so you know no girl wants to compete with that. Her boobs are huge!" Zara held her hands out in front of her chest like she was touching a huge breast.

"I'd tell my mate I like small t**s too." River explained. Zara rolled her eyes and laughed because he said it as if it would make much of a difference.

"I'm sure that will be a great comfort to her." Zara could not help but think River was a horn dog.

"You are not very good at resisting temptation," Zara said to River.

"It's true I have a problem." River admitted. Zara went stiff, her eyes darted around.

"s**t run!" Zara took off and River ran behind her, "it's the Vargis and it's too many for me to fight alone!" Zara and River were both running full speed when Zara came to a sudden halt, "We are surrounded!"

'Um, Tabatha. If Chastity is with you this would be a really good time for her to swoop in and save us!' River gulped when out of the woods they appeared. The beast growled at them, foaming at the mouth. River had been fortunate not to face any up close and now he sized them up. There was no way they could fight them off. He could shift and leave Zara but he was no coward. If he were to die it would be with honor. "I'm going to try something. Do you think you can outrun one of them?"

"I am no coward!" River snapped.

"I wasn't calling you one." Zara's eyes began to sparkle and River watched as one beast turned on another and began to fight. The other three beasts' eyes locked on River and they charged. River went sprinting through the forest when he realized he was leading them toward his pack and his family. He made a quick turn and headed toward the river. They were nipping at his heels, he could feel and smell their hot breath. He was afraid and alone and he ran out to the water shifting into his sea beast he swam deeper and deeper his heart pounding.

Zara made it back to the cabin when she came bursting through the door out of breath.

"Where is River!" Tabatha said in a panic.

"I don't know we separated, they had us surrounded. I killed two by mind control and the other three chased River. I was going to help him but the three came charging back at me and my energy was spent on the first two. I Had to run for it. I don't think they caught him!"

"How can you be sure?"

"They were not covered in blood," Zara assured her. She drops the ingredients on the table after pulling them from her backpack.

Chastity came walking inside, "Chastity, River needs our help!" Tabatha said.

"What's going on?"

"Come on, let's go!" Tabatha said rushing her out the door.

River came from the water and stood. Three dead carcasses lay near the water's edge, blood and guts everywhere. River began to walk back toward the pack when Chastity and the girls came flying above him.

"River!" Tabatha was the first to call out.

Chastity landed beside him hopping off her broom and she gave him an awkward hug.

"Glad you're okay." Chastity said honestly, Tabatha hugged him too. Zara just stood back. River looked at her and mumbled "thanks."

"No problem," Zara said they flew back to the pack house Zara loved it, Naudia her wolf not so much.

Alpha Lucas searched through images flashing before him as he walked around touching counters tops, benches walls. "I found her." He announced after hours. Vanessa was buying her ticket. He watched her pay and then move on to a bench nearby. He was looking around her at the different faces trying to see if anyone stood out.

Him! Alpha Lucas saw a scruffy, bearded man leaning against the wall. He looked around but his eyes kept falling on Vanessa. Alpha Lucas walked over to the wall where the man stood. He watched as the man looked across the room at another man and nodded. "Bingo!"

"What is it, dad?" Zion asked as Kade listed eagerly.

"The guy over there in the uniform was in on it," Lucas said he headed back to the car. He would let Zion and Kade handle things from there.

They walked up to the guy, "Hey Sir mind if we have a word?" Zion asked the guard but before the words had barely left his lips Kade grabbed the man by the throat and carried him to the men's bathroom.

He dropped him as they entered tossing him into one of the urinals.

Scooping him up he growled "This girl" he shoved a picture of Vanessa in his face, "talk and fast before I rip your f*****g throat out!"

"Dude never saw her before in my life!" The guy lied. Zion stepped in because they needed an answer before Kade murdered him. He snatched the guy from Kade and dragged him into a stall he shoved his head in the water. Holding his head under he said calmly, "This girl is important to me and my friend, and you and your buddy know exactly what happen to her." The guy's legs were sliding and kicking as Zion slowly continued, "So I imagine she has been through a lot and we probably should just kill you but first I want to give you a chance at redemption." Zion lifted his head and the guy started coughing, crying and throwing up water.

"They say drowning is an awful way to die. Very slow and painful because you can feel your lungs burn as they fill with water." Zion began to push his head back under. "Wait please wait!"

The guy begged, "Ted McCarthy his address is 342 Woodson st. He pays me to let him know when I see young girls traveling alone. That's all I know I swear."

"What is he doing with the girls?" Kade growled

"I don't know you don't ask those types of questions. He paid me well not to ask those types of questions." The guy explained. Zion reached in his pocket. Pulling out his wallet he searched through it, "Jack from 8900th street nice family you have if you ever tell anyone about this conversation I WILL COME BACK AND KILL YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY!" Zion stepped around him and headed for the door. He looked back at the menacing look Kade had in his eyes. Kade looked at Zion, "How many girls have this loser taken from their families?"

Zion looked at him, "make it fast."

With lightning speed, Kade ripped the guy's heart out of his chest and fed off of him. He washed his hands and they left the bathroom. Heading for the car.

"Find anything, useful son?" Lucas asked.

"We got an address," Zion said, slamming the passenger's door.

"Great, where to?" Lucas asked as Kade slid in.

"342 Woodson st," Kade said and they were on their way.

There was a drastic change in the neighborhood the closer they got to Woodson st.

Zion felt a little out of his element as his eyes combed the area. Although his pack was able to sustain with very little human interference he always found it intriguing outside of the veil of Mystic Moon. Only because this is where Catori had been raised. His father moved in many circles so he knew things others did not as far as how humans operated but he preferred as less dealings as possible. He noticed immediately the young boy on his bike that watched their car as it advanced down Woodson. Kade jumped out of the car before it came to a complete stop. Kade took the steps two by two as Zion's eyes searched their surroundings. A Hispanic male came to the door. He spoke Spanish so Kade could not understand him. "Dad!" Zion called out and Lucas made his way to the stairs. The guy repeated himself.

"Hello, I'm looking for a friend of mine. Jack told me I could find him here." Lucas said in Spanish.

"Jack oooh yes Jack. Just a minute, Just a minute." The guy walked away and came back, this time he held a newspaper "Jack, yes you looking for Ted?"

"Ted yes I am."

The guy was an older gentleman, he had a walker he was leaning on. "Ted where he is supposed to be. He did bad things to many young girls. Including his own niece. You work with Ted your bad people too." The old man made his way back inside. This time he returned with a 45 caliber and pointed the gun at Zion, Lucas, and Kade.

"No look Ted took a friend of mine and we are trying to find her!" Zion explained.

"Oh sorry, I tell the police all I know. He came and went. I didn't know what he was into. Sorry!"

The three men look at each other. "Gracias." Lucas said as they head back to the truck, "A dead end," Lucas said, poor Kade looked crushed.

"Maybe Chastity came up with something."

Back at Mystic Moon.

Chastity stood dropping all her ingredients in the bowl along with some of Vanessa's hair. She began to chant and a purple mist filled the room. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and suddenly she was in some type of facility. Chastity held the pendent her mother had given her chanting the words of the spell the pendent pointed in the direction she was to go she entered another room and there was a very handsome man leaning against a desk. Chastity walked over and stood staring at the man. "You need to learn to control your hunger. At this rate, I'll go broke just trying to appease your appetite." Chastity heard a clicking noise she slowly turned to face the cage as her pendant pointed at it. Her eyes locked with the beast behind the bars. The beast could see her, although the man could not.

Chastity gasped, stepping back from… what the hell she wondered confuse by what she was seeing. The beast seeing her began to cry out and it started to shift.

"Hey what's wrong with you?" The man ran to the cage as the beast began to have what seemed to be a seizure. "Hey! Hey! Damnit b***h don't you f*****g die on me now." The man grabbed a tranquilizer gun and aimed it at the beast shooting it several times before Chastity was pulled from the vision.

Chastity "are you okay," Tabatha said cupping her face with her hands. "I found her. I found Vanessa." Chastity's eyes welled up with tears, "She is not okay."

"What did you see Chastity?"

"A cage she is in a cage." Chastity said in a very distressed tone.

"Who would do that to Vanessa?" River chimed in his anger beginning to boil, "If Kali was here, She kill them all!"

"There was a man. He was talking to her. I think he is holding her prisoner."

"But where?" River said hanging on her every word.

"I don't know. My head felt like it was going to explode. Guys, she is not the same."

"What do you mean?" Tabatha asked

"She was in the cage for a reason. She was changed." Chastity said shivering.

"Changed how Chastity?" Tabatha asked.

Chastity closed her eyes seeing images of the beast in her mind.

"I need to go back for more information." Chastity said jumping up but she stumbled and River caught her.

"I think you should wait awhile Chastity." River said holding her, "Maybe." Chastity said pulling herself together.

"Let me make you some tea Chastity." Zara quickly started to maneuver around the small kitchen. As she prepared tea for Chastity she listened intently as the witch explained all she saw.

"Chastity when you say beast do you mean like the Vargis? Or just some other …animal?" Zara asked as her wolf Naudia said, 'It can't be a coincidence the Vargis started attacking around the same time that Vanessa goes missing. Maybe she has been taken by their creator, Zara'

"That is a good question." River said agreeing with Zara, "although it's hard to picture her that way."

"Well, she said beast she didn't say Vargis maybe it's not the same type of beast."

"I hope not" Chastity spoke up "if people can be infected and turn into that." Chastity took a deep breath, "Catori is the only one that could possibly fix this."

The room grew silent. The sound of the engine roared as Zion, Kade and Lucas arrived back. The girls all piled outside and headed toward the packhouse. Tabatha could tell Kade was crushed, yet still, she had to ask, "any luck guys."

"Not really the guy that could have led us to her is in prison now for s*x trafficking," Kade said sadly.

"s**t that sucks," Zara mumbled.

"We found something," River said "Well Chastity did."

Tabatha could see a small glimmer of hope in Kade's eyes. He looked eagerly at Chastity.

"I saw her, she is alive." Chastity began but before she could get anything out Kade lifted her up and swung her around.

"I wouldn't get too excited."

Kade instantly placed Chastity's small frame in front of him, "why Chastity."

"She is not the same. She has changed." Chastity said.

"Well of course she has. There is no telling what all she has been through." Kade could not quit smiling, he was happy she was alive and Chastity did not have the heart to tell him the truth.

Tabatha and River shared a look but neither said a word. Zion began sharing everything that had happened on their outing as Lucas said his goodbyes and headed home to his mate.

They piled in Zion's office to compare notes, everyone but Chastity she found her broom and took off to the skies. Zion saw her from his office window, "Why do I worry about her when she takes to the skies alone?" Zion found himself asking aloud.

"I think we all do with the Vargis out there. I thought I was dead meat today!" River exclaimed.

"You ran into them, today?" Zion asked brows raised.

"Yes, they are moving closer and closer inland." River groaned

"We have to come up with a plan. My people can barely let their wolves out as is." Zion pointed out, "they are multiplying at an alarming rate. Something has to be done."

They spent the rest of the evening trying to determine how to broach the situation. Zion scolded Tabatha for leaving the pack without permission, but then he followed up by saying he understood her reasons. Tabatha could tell he needed something to focus on. She did as well she hoped this would be a distraction from all her dark thoughts and that hopefully the Goddess Selene would have mercy on their pack and bring Vanessa home. She tried to pay attention but her mind kept going back to earlier. Blaine was her heart and she simply could not understand how he could so easily look past what his mother had done. Yes, the baby was not his, was that what made it okay in his eyes she wondered. Did her ex-mate hate her this much? She thought about what Zion had said to her earlier as well. She did not need to write in a diary to determine the answer to that. There was truly no choice to make, she would always choose Mystic Moon. It did not ease her pain at all though.

Richard looked over at Tabatha, he could tell she was barely keeping it together. His heart went out to her. He would never understand, 'Hey you gonna be okay?'

'Oh, I am fine.' She lied not only to him but to herself. She stood up and decided to dismiss herself using her boys as an excuse. She was home ten minutes before River was knocking on her door, "I could never win in a fight with him but if I could I'd hunt him down and kick his as Catori style."

Tabatha laughed as he gathered her in his arms and she lay her head on his chest and cried. She was not completely alone, she still had River or Catori and Vanessa would say, Good ole Buddy. She just hated that she was such a crybaby.