CURSED BY THE MOON

THE HAND I AM GIVEN.

“Are you a werewolf?.” Rather than an answer, I return a question and I watch the man's right brows lift slightly as he seems to genuinely think about the question.

“Not exactly.” He responds two seconds later and his answer does nothing for me. What do you mean by ‘not exactly’?. I already know werewolves exist so I am awfully calm to his response but his choice of words makes it impossible for me to determine if he is one of the specie or not.

“Are you a sprit witch?.” The supernatural questions calmly as his gaze silently locks on my face for clues. I give him nothing. What is a sprit witch?. Being honest, this is the first time I have heard of something like this. I know about werewolves and I have gotten enough clues to be ninety percent sure that vampires exist but witches?. This is the first time I have heard about them.

“Not exactly.” I respond to the man while paying him back with his own words as well as concealing how little I know on the subject. I see his eyes squint just barely as if he is whispering 'well played' but that might just have been my imagination as he speaks.

“Do it again.”, He says slowly with his eyes on my face for a reaction. I might have cracked a little but not enough to give off any clue as I stare into his blue eyes that remain sharp and cold even under his heavy glasses.

“What you did at the mart, do it again.”, He repeats and my heart begins to pound in my chest as I remember my powers reaching to him in my moment of rage. I don’t know how to do that again. Throughout my life I have only been able to draw on that power five times with today being the sixth time. No matter how hard I try, that unnatural warmth in my heart remains unresponsive all other times.

Though even if I can do what I did again- “I don’t owe that to you.” I respond slowly and his expression does not change as he looks at me.

“How about an exchange?.”, The stranger proposes calmly and I am fast to respond. “Let us start with our names.”, I say and he nods once with a barely noticeable pull on his jaw.

“My name is Lyon.” Lyon introduces himself with a deep voice and like any respectable gentleman would, he leans forward and offers an handshake.

“Josephine.” I reply with the same bland enthusiasm and my hand goes into his own for two seconds before we both withdraw.

Big, firm and cold. Lyon's palms are so cold that I suspect for a second that he is a vampire rather than one of the wolves.

“Damian.” Damian also introduces himself calmly and Lyon turns to give him a calm nod while Damian keeps observing Lyon like he is a threat waiting to happen.

“Back to our exchange. I want you to do what you did at the mart and I would give you something equivalent in return.” Lyon proposes calmly though I am not exactly sure what to do with his terms especially when I don’t have the means to keep my end of the deal.

“What do you have to offer?.” I ask with portrayed confidence and Lyon lays down details on the table. “If you want to deal in cash then I don’t have any problems but when it comes to blood I have certain.. reservations.” Lyon says calmly and my expression cannot help but c***k faintly at his casual mention of blood which is obviously a polite way of putting people's lives on the table.

I remember blood, my parents blood!. I tense slightly in anger about the casual mention of people’s lives as a bargaining chip on a dining table. I look into Lyon's calm eyes and it takes a lot for me to force my anger into the background of my voice.

“Do all wolves.. deal in blood?.” I question slowly but anybody including Lyon would notice the anger behind my forcefully calm tone. “I do not speak for the wolves.” Lyon responds wisely and I change my question with a sharper edge to my voice.

“Do you deal in blood?.” I ask and I observe in silence as Lyon gives an answer with his calm completely unshaken by my tone or words. “I deal the hand I am given.” Lyon says calmly and I breathe silently but heavily for the next few seconds of cold silence. I don't push further, not when it is so obvious from his words that he does not want to clash against me. I barely blink but I am mature enough to silently swallow my emotions before speaking calmly once more.