CURSED BY THE MOON

THE MAN BEHIND THE VEIL.

“Damian?.” I say to my device and response comes after a few static seconds. “I found one.” Damian's voice cuts through the line with a tone that makes it seem like he only half believes what he is saying.

I know exactly what we have been looking for through the last decade and so my first reaction is a breath-holding silence and then questions. “Damian are you sure?.” I question with my heart pounding heavily rather than racily. I know just how competent Damian is but I still ask because I cannot afford to build hope only to be let down.

“It is full moon tonight and I asked my men to stalk all the shady areas. I was in one of the high end guesthouses and something violent happened in the VIP, blood spilling everywhere.” Damian says slowly and I do my best not to interrupt with my curiosity burning.

“Some men who had been too strong to be humans were standing guard at the entrance and although I won the fight the price is me being planted in broken tables. I was fighting being unconscious when I saw someone stumble out of the VIP though he was barely able to walk. He was holding a medieval long sword and I could immediately tell that his leg is broken. I stayed still and he didn’t notice me as he walked out of the guesthouse so I trailed after him and now I am on his block.” Damian says to me and I can feel the intensity of every word. My body shakes and for a few seconds I don't know how to react to the news. For the past ten years this is the closest I have ever gotten to the supernatural, this might be my only chance.

“Where are you?.” I almost whisper with my hand gripping my phone too tight and Damian responds calm. “Huston District, Lane 2.” I don’t need to hear more.

The line is cuts off and I find myself a loose pair of trousers. A shirt follows and reaching into a corner of my cabinet I pull out my handgun that is always loaded with sliver bullets. With urgency I grab a car key out of my collection and my phone slips into my pocket as I race to the door. A quick grab ensures my hair band comes along and the next second I am running down the stairs then through my living room as I pack my hair into a bun while finally making it out of my apartment.

I live in a penthouse, no more accurately I own the penthouse. The top floor or rather mansion is mine and being the owner has its perks -like having a private elevator. There is no need for a dozen seconds wait as my elevator opens with a hurried click of a button sending me on my way down. My heart pounds heavily as the elevator descends smoothly and I barely wait for the doors to open before racing out into a space illuminated by classy mix of dim lights and intentional shadows. It is my private parking lot and I barely look at any other vehicle cause what I want is speed. A click of my car key tells me exactly where my blue supercar is parked and there is no time.

I step in my car fast and my barefoot hits the accelerator when I suddenly remember that I am not wearing any footwear. I groan in anger at nothing in particular and once I input the address given to me on the GPS I start to drive with a drift putting me on the road a minute later.

Few cars and fewer people. I am sure I am over-speeding and red lights don't matter as my supercar covers the distance with my heart racing in anxiety. What if he runs away?. What if I’m late?. What am I going to do when I get there?.

My foot is tight on my pedals and my car zips as I cover the distance fast with my racing heart making time disoriented. I am not sure exactly how long but every second feels like eternity yet soon enough I get to my destination and anxiety makes me slow down. The night is beginning to fade and I am onto the location Damian has given me as I drive through the streets.

Light suddenly flashes through my wind screen and from a distance I see Damian’s motorcycle with a second flash of his headlamps helping me confirm it’s him. I pull up, park and then I step outside my vehicle to approach Damian with my movement showing nervous impatience.

“Where?.” I question but I slow down when I see the way he holds his chest through his leather jacket. He is injured, badly. Damian never shows pain but I can always tell when he is hurt and right now, he is hurt.

“It is too much danger to go in there right now.” Damian says slowly and my brows furrows with my eyes impatiently looks through the streets as if searching for clues.

“I would decide if it is dangerous or not.” I snap coldly as I meet Damian gaze. Sharp eyebrows, cold brown eyes, small diamond earrings, pink lips and waved back brown hair. Damian is straight out of fiction in terms of appearance but that handsome face does not stir my heart as all my focus is on finding this supernatural.

“Josie, he killed sixteen people in one night.” Damian says to me with his calm sounding worry too logical to sound pleasing to my impatient ears. Damian looks into my eyes and I snap impatiently.

“You have a higher kill count.” I say and I regret my words the second they come out. Silence burns the air between myself and Damian and the next second I apologize as my impatience cools just barely.