Luna's Ascension

Chapter 2: A New Beginning

“Where’s Mist?” Leo’s voice demanded. I woke up and grumbled incoherently before rolling back over. “Cindy, where is Mist?” he repeated, the agitation clear in his voice.

“She left.” I said, starting to wake up. “She said that now that I’m left to protect Matt she was going to finish what she started, so I’m guessing she is on her way back to Romania.” 

“Of course she did.” Leo sighed. “I don’t think she understands how much easier it would be for your training if she stayed. What was the last command she gave you?” He asked. 

“You cannot leave this room until Leo comes back” I repeated, noticing the tightness in my muscles had released since he was back. “So I can leave now if I want, right?” I asked.

Leo groaned and put his hand on his face, “Yes, now you can do whatever you want, but remember what happened with Jason. If you don’t want to become a bloodthirsty killing machine I suggest you get ready and leave with me.” 

“You make a good point.” I said, thoughtfully, “Where are you going?” 

“Back to my home in Montana.” He answered. 

“Do you have a phone so I can contact my family? If I can say goodbye to them, I will go with you.” I answered. 

“I do have your phone, but before you do anything rash I would like to inform you that we are currently in Wisconsin already.” 

“How the hell-you know what? Forget it I don’t care anymore that you guys drugged me, hauled me in your car for days after turning me, taking me across multiple state lines, and starved me.” I growled out, “Just give me my phone.” Leo complied, and I was happy he didn’t try to justify or minimize any of what they had put me through. I hit the direct call to home button and listened as it rang. The voicemail picked up and I heard my mom’s tearful voice delivering a message about any news on their missing daughter. 

“Hey mom, dad, Matt. It’s me. I just wanted to apologize and let you know I love you all so much. Aubrey and I got really drunk and talked about taking a trip to celebrate graduation, and well kinda took off and did it. We’re in Wisconsin now, and I’ll be home eventually. Sorry for worrying you. My phone is about to die and I don’t know when we will get a chance to charge them as we are making our way to hike the porcupine mountains. I love you all and will update you when I can.” I hung up and turned off my phone before sliding it into my pocket. “Alright, to Montana then.” I said turning to Leo, knowing full well he was able to hear every word of the message and how upset my parents were. Once again he had the decency not to bring it up as we left the motel room. 

We had been in the car for hours riding in complete silence before I could not handle it anymore. “So when were you turned?” I asked. 

“1619. It was fall.” He answered.

“And it was this Ivan dude who turned you?” I asked. 

“Yes, although he didn’t know it at the time. He thought he had just drained me dry and left me for dead, but we had a struggle and I uh, bit him, some of his blood got in my mouth and it was just enough to trigger the change. I didn’t know what had happened just that I had survived the attack. I went home and when my son ran up to hug me I heard the blood pounding in his veins and could smell it. I attacked him and drained him dry, turning on my wife who was screaming in horror, she was dead as well before I came to my senses and realized what I had done.” he stared out the windshield not making eye contact, as his face looked haunted by the past. “Ivan hadn’t traveled far and heard of the man arrested for slaughtering his family. When he saw the crime scene he knew it had to be another vampire and came to the jail where I had already bent the metal bars, releasing myself, and slaughtered the sheriff and deputy. He was shocked that he had made me like him until we talked about it and realized it must have been because I was the first one to fight him back and taste his blood. He taught me all he knew and we became circumstantial friends.” 

“And now you want me to kill him?” I asked. 

“When I was first given the prophecy, I did not believe it. I could never train the person to kill my only friend in this damn world, but he’s changed. The power has driven him mad, and he wants more. He has been making mistakes like Vlad did. Starting wars with shifters, and witches. Now he speaks of a grand scheme to make our existence public. He wants to take over the country as the apex predator which will only lead to more hunters, more war with the shifters and witches, and depleting our only source of food by draining all the humans without any constraint. Letting him live means doom for us all.” 

“How am I supposed to stop that?” I asked. “I’m only 18. I don’t even know what I want to be when I grow up!” 

“The prophecy stated that you would be the one to stop him. I’ve been thinking about the how and have started formulating a plan but you don’t need to worry about that now. I’ll let you know when the plan is complete. We have two years before he is going to come for you. During that time I will train you on how to be effective with being a vampire, court protocols, and we will build a coven of trusted individuals to help support our take over of the throne.” 

I sighed. That sounded like a lot of work. I just wanted to go on vacation with my family as I had planned and travel the world while figuring out what I wanted to do for college like a normal f*****g teenager.. Although, from the sounds of it Bran castle may still be occupied by things worse than ghosts and I’m glad I’m missing out on that particular experience. I wondered how Mist was doing and if she would be okay. I was hoping she would be here with me and Leo, I thought it wouldn’t be as bad if I got to keep at least one person from my past by my side. 

“We are going to stop here for the day.” Leo said pulling into a cheesy forest themed motel. “I need to find a witch who can bless something for you to help with the sunlight. Here.” He said shoving a hoodie and sunglasses into my hands, “I know it’s just barely dawn but any amount of sunlight is toxic to you at this point so put your hood up and the glasses on while I go in.” He put up his own hood and hat. I slipped on the LSSU hoodie and glasses as a ray of sunlight came through the window landing on my hand which immediately began to burn so I put it in the pocket of the sweatshirt. “Alright come on, let’s go.” Leo said opening my door, “Room 113, right up there on the right.” He said as he handed me a room key and moved to grab his stuff from the trunk. Not having any belongings due to the whole being kidn*pped, I didn’t offer to help and went straight to the room. I kicked off my shoes and collapsed on the mattress. 

Leo walked in and threw a bag down on the bed near my head. “I had Mist get you some clothes while we were traveling. There should be pajamas in there and you should probably shower. I’m going to find us food and hopefully a witch, do you have a piece of jewelry I can borrow?” My hand instinctively went to my great-grandmother’s locket around my neck shielding it from his view. “If it’s an heirloom it will have stronger ties to you and the spell will take to it better. I promise not to lose it.” He extended his hand expectantly. Sighing I unclasped the golden locket and put it in his hand. 

“If you lose it, consequences be damned, I will kill you.” I looked him in the eye. He nodded before turning to the door putting his glasses back on and hood back up. When I heard his car start and peel out of the parking lot I looked through the bag of clothes. Sure enough there were two pairs of jeans, five pairs of underwear, and both a sports bra and underwire bra, five pairs of socks, five t-shirts, and a pair of sweatpants. I grabbed a pair of underwear, the sports bra, a t-shirt and the sweatpants before heading into the bathroom. The hotel soap dried out my skin, but it felt good to be clean after four days. I sat on the bed watching TV with my hair wrapped in the towel when Leo returned. He had another frat guy in tow, and handed back my necklace. 

“I didn’t find a witch.” He said, “But here, eat while I go shower.” He said motioning towards the guy around my age. He started rummaging through his own bag finding his toiletries and clothes. As he turned to go to the bathroom he noticed I hadn’t moved. Sighing heavily he rubbed the bridge of his nose, “You are a vampire now. You need to drink blood or you will die.” He stared down on me. 

“Then bring me a blood baggy from the nearest hospital.” I said rolling my eyes at him. “I’m not going to attack an innocent person.” 

“Do you know how much of a pain robbing a hospital would be?!” He stared at me incredulously. 

“I’m sure you could brainwash some innocent person to walk in and grab you a bag.” I started turning up the TV volume. I didn’t really care what was on, I just didn’t want to have this discussion.

“Just eat the frat boy.” He said, and when I made no move towards the stranger he growled before going over and making a small scratch on the boy’s wrist. My senses took over. I smelled the blood and like a shark moved towards it. I lifted the boy's arm to my mouth and drank deeply. I felt satiated a lot faster and by the time I stopped drinking I noticed the sound of the water running. Ashamed I wiped the blood from my mouth and moved back over to my bed. 

“Who are you?” I finally asked the boy. He blinked at me slowly with clouded eyes. “What’s your name?” I tried again. 

“Kevin” he answered in a dream-like voice. 

“Where are you from?” I asked.

“Kansas.” He answered. I groaned. 

“What are you doing in Wisconsin?” I pushed hoping for more than a one word answer. 

“University, Madison” He answered in the same tone. Like somehow that would clear things up. The water stopped and a few minutes later Leo stepped out in sweats and a t-shirt. 

“It’s not polite to play with your food.” He said looking at me, “In this state he isn’t very useful.” He sat next to Kevin taking his arm and beginning to feed. I couldn’t bear to watch it and turned my attention back to the TV but no matter how high I turned the volume up I could still hear Leo swallowing down the blood and smell it in the air. After a few gulps he stopped. “I’m going to take Kevin home, be good while I’m gone and don’t wander off.” He said sliding on his hat, sunglasses, and sweatshirt pulling the hood up. I nodded to show I heard him, but didn’t look in his direction. After he left I turned my phone back on and it blew up with messages from Matt and my parents. A few minutes later it rang and I answered. 

“Hello?” 

“What the hell?” Matt yelled into the receiver. “You know what, put Aubrey on.” 

“She’s in the shower.” I lied. 

“Ugh. Of course she is. Do you know how reckless this is? How much we are all worried about you?!” He yelled out, I had to toss the phone onto the other bed, because with my enhanced hearing it was too much. “Tell me where you are. I will come get you.” He offered, “Please just let me come get you.” 

“Matt I’m sorry for worrying you all. I really am, but I need this trip with Brie. She is moving at the end of the summer and it’s my last chance to be with her. I promise I will come home when we are done, I just really need this.” I pleaded with him. Lying was getting easier, and I hated it. I also hated that I could hear the melody in my tone, the same one Leo used when he was brainwashing the frat boys. “Matt tell my parents I am safe, and enjoying myself and will be home when I can.” I forced the melody into my voice more, using the commanding tone Leo used with the frat boys, and Mist used with me. 

“Okay. You are safe, and enjoying yourself. You will be home when you can.” He repeated back to me his voice calm and dreamy like Kevin’s was earlier. 

“I love you, and will keep in touch.” I said. 

“I love you too.” He said in his normal voice before hanging up. I deleted all the messages in my phone without reading or listening to them. Knowing it would be too heartbreaking and I would run straight home if I did. I went through the bag again and found a charger, plugging my phone in. I let it charge as I went to brush my teeth. I made sure to snarl and get my fangs extra well, as I scrubbed the remnants of Kevin’s blood from my mouth. I swished with mouthwash until the copper tang was completely gone and tucked myself into bed. 

I was in the forest again, and even though I knew what, who, was coming for me I still ran. My new body ran faster than I ever had before, without the need to breathe I was able to go longer as well without my lungs burning and cramps forming. Just when I thought I had escaped I felt his hand around my neck as I was slammed into a tree. I stared into his green eyes trying to hide my fear. “Who are you?” I demanded. 

“Your king.” he smiled at me, with joy in his green eyes. “He finally turned you. Good. You will be mine soon enough-”

“Cindy! Wake up!.” I felt a sharp slap to my face and awoke screaming in my bed, no not my bed. I looked around rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I took in the painted trees and woodland creatures I remembered where I was and who I was with. Leo stood over me panting. 

“What the hell was that?” He asked. 

“Your circumstantial friend.” I sneered. 

“Ivan?” he asked, the shock clear on his face. 

“About a head taller than me, shaggy black hair, creepy green eyed vampire?” I asked him. 

“Yeah that would be him.” Leo said, “I still don’t understand, was he here?” 

“No. I’ve been having the same nightmare for years. They started when I was six. I’m always in the woods at night running. He always finds me and slams me against a tree holding my throat before going to bite me. This time though he seemed happy that I was turned.” I explained. 

“I didn’t know he was dream walking. This complicates things.” Leo looked worried, “Make sure you act normal in the dream, and whatever you do do not reveal any part of the plan to him.” 

“Yeah there normally isn’t much time for chatting before he tries to kill me.” I muttered before rolling over to go back to sleep. 

“What are you doing?” Leo asked. 

“Going back to sleep now f**k off.” I grumbled at him. 

“No. We need to leave. The sunset half an hour ago.” He ripped the blankets off of me. “Go on, get changed and pack your things.” I glared at him as I got up and started stretching before following his orders. He threw our bags into the car and we were off again. The playlist of endless instrumental music gave me a headache so I turned on another streaming station that had rock. Leo sneered, “How about not.” He said reaching to turn off the radio. 

“How about I listened to your crummy ass old man music for the past two days and it’s my turn.” I said turning it back on. “Plus Godsmack is a classic.” 

“I saw them live a couple times in my younger days, but you will find as you age and memorize all the lyrics of bands you enjoy, you get sick of songs with lyrics.” 

“Well good thing I’m not ancient then.” I said turning up the volume. By the end of the song Leo was quietly singing along, and banging his head in the air, which meant I had won. We only had one more stop before we would arrive at his home. If Leo was anything he was consistent. We pulled into the lot right before sunrise, he got the key, took my necklace, I went to bed. When I woke up there was a frat boy sitting in a chair, my locket sat on the bedside table, I put my locket back on, drank the guys blood, Leo dropped him back off, and half an hour after sunset we were on our way again. 

“Are you gay?” I finally asked. 

“No. Why would you ask that?” Leo looked at me and the car made a sharp jerk as he had accidentally turned the wheel in his shock. 

“You literally only bring back frat guys to feed on.” I said like it was obvious. 

“Yeah, because men are much easier to abduct than women. All I have to do is hang out at a liquor store until one asks me to buy them beer. I do, and offer them a ride to the party, use my compulsion and ta-da free food. Women on the other hand never travel alone, and are wary of strange men. And it’s easier to use compulsion on a drunk person, and makes it more believable that a guy would get drunk and wander around the woods alone where he got scratched, because that is something women would never do.” 

“Okay. Okay.” I said, “You made your point.” My phone buzzed and I sent my mom some pictures of the scenery I had Leo take during the day. 

“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to find a witch to enchant your locket.” Leo said, looking over my shoulder at the pictures he had to take, “I know it’s not fun traveling only at night.” 

“It’s okay, you should be able to find a witch easier in the town where you live.” I said. 

“I’m sorry, but I can’t. Due to Ivan’s treatment of the other supernatural beings, none of them would help us even if I could find one.” 

“Oh.” I looked down at my phone and wondered how long it would be before I would be able to see things basked in sunlight again. “It’ll be alright, we will figure it out eventually.” I forced a smile refusing to give up hope. 

“Another thing, Ivan doesn’t know your name does he?” Leo asked. 

“I don’t think so, why?” 

“You may want to change it, he would be like Vlad and use your loved ones against you in order to control you.” 

“Oh, I didn’t think of that.” I said sadly. “I should probably stop texting them so much then, huh?” I asked. 

“No keeping in contact is good. For both you and them, just we will have to come up with an excuse at the end of the summer of you going off to college for them, and in two years when he comes for you, you’ll have to leave your phone behind so he doesn’t find out about them.” 

“What did you tell him while you were spying on me?” I asked, curious as to what steps he had already taken to protect my loved ones. 

“I told him you were an orphan, given up for adoption, and that your adoptive parents left you alone for long periods of time. That you were interested in the past and the supernatural which isolated you from your peers.” 

“So you didn’t lie?” I asked. 

“No, I can’t lie to him. He is my sire, but I can omit facts if he doesn’t specifically demand them.” 

“How does the name Luna sound?” I asked staring up at the moon hanging full in the sky. I always felt a connection to the night, and the waves of the ocean on my trips abroad. 

“That sounds like a good name, have you thought of a surname?” 

“Matthews. Luna Matthews.” I answered remembering the surname of one of my favorite TV families from the Disney Classics station growing up. 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Luna Matthews.” Leo said with a smirk. I knew he was glad he had a name he could use without lying to Ivan and it made me happy too. We pulled up to a large wrought iron gate with a pattern depicting the stages of the moon welded into it. Leo rolled down his window and touched the touchpad before the gates slowly slid open. Leo pulled the car around the circular drive up to a stone mansion with heavy wooden doors adorned with wrought iron fixtures. A servant appeared and unloaded our belongings while another servant took the car keys. As I entered a third servant stood by the entryway. 

“Good evening sir, how was your trip?” The servant by the door said, taking the hoodie, ball cap, and sunglasses Leo extended to her. 

“Exhausting.” Leo answered the woman, “Kelly, be a dear and show Luna to her room. I had you prepare it when I visited last month.” 

“Yes sir.” Kelly answered, “Anything else sir?” 

“No that will be all. I’ll have Kenneth tend to my needs when he gets in from parking the car.” 

“Yes sir.” Kelly said, “Right this way ma’am.” she said smiling at me with her perfectly human teeth. 

“Are you under a compulsion?” I whispered to her when we were out of Leo’s earshot.

“Oh heavens no.” Kelly laughed. “The master takes very good care of us. We have our own housing on the grounds, have ample food, can come and go as we please, get paid a healthy salary we can live comfortably off of, and between the four of us the amount of blood he needs to survive is split so we stay in top health. Not to mention the generous donations from the American Red Cross every month.” 

“Other than your staff does Leo live here alone?” I asked, staring at the large house. 

“Up until now yes. We are very excited he has chosen a pupil to take under his wing, he was quite lonely before he was able to fulfill his mission in finding you. Hopefully you will find lots of people to join your coven and fill this empty house with life and laughter.” She said wistfully, while gently laying a hand on her abdomen. 

“Are you pregnant?” I asked. 

“Yes, Kenneth and I are expecting.” She answered. 

“And you’re going to raise a baby on the grounds?” I asked incredulously. 

“Well of course, my family has always worked for Mr. Wright. Generations were raised here in the role of serving the master. Just as Kenneth and Jesper were. Candy is new, the master saved her from working the street, he provided for her and her son Casien. Once every couple generations the master will find a new bloodline for the work, but mine was the first.” She said that last bit with a sense of pride, “and I’m the first in my bloodline to have a child with another staff member. All our ancestors conceived with random men in town to continue the bloodline and service to the master. But Kenneth and I figured our two hardworking bloodlines that have served the master so well would be sure to produce a suitable heir for our line of work. Plus we wanted our children to grow up with both parents, a luxury we were denied.” 

“I understand you there.” I said, “I never got to meet my birth parents.” 

“That’s so sad.” Kelly said, “Kenneth and I at least got to know our mothers.” 

“Yeah. Maybe Leo will help me track them down so I can know why they gave me up.” I mused. 

“Oh. Master Wright would love to help you. He is a very generous person.” Kelly smiled warmly at me, “Well here is your room. I am your assigned servant so if you need me just hit this button and it will page me.” She explained as she handed me a purple, silicone, digital bracelet with a button on the side. 

“Thank you.” I said as I entered the room. There was a large window with heavy wooden shades and floor length black out curtains, the four poster king size bed also had a canopy with heavy purple curtains, I pulled back the curtains to reveal what appeared to be black silk sheets, and a fluffy purple comforter, the bedside table had a remote with four buttons labeled “blinds closed” “blinds opened” “curtains closed” “curtains open”. I pushed the buttons for “closed” and watched the blinds fold down and the curtains slide in front of them before moving on to explore the rest of the room. There was a T.V mounted to the wall across from the bed, and the door to the walk in closet next to that. Other wise the room was bare. There was a knock at the door. I opened it to find the blonde servant with brown eyes. 

“Hello, I’m Kenneth, I have your belongings.” He said holding out the duffel bag Mist had found for me. 

“Thank you.” I said taking the bag. 

“You’re welcome. Have a good night Luna, sleep well.” Kenneth said before turning and walking down the hall. I closed the door behind him, changed into my sweats and flopped down on the comfortable bed.