Land of the Moon

Chapter 12

“Are you sure about this, Cecily?” Louisa asked me again as we finished breaking camp.

“It may be slower than normal, but yes, I am sure about this. You are both worried about your comrades as well as Ema. Besides, you said I heal fast. I will be fine.” I gave Louisa and Ema a smile as they both were looking at me like I was going to collapse where I stood. My smile faded as my nose picked up the faintest smell of someone rushing towards us. Instinctively I flashed in front of Ema, ignoring the pain that shot through me because of my sudden movement.

“What is it, Cecily?” Ema dropped her pack as she stood.

“Something’s coming!” Mira whispered next to me. Louisa had then picked up her staff as well as chanting a protective spell around us all. Not long after she finished, an enormous black wolf quietly emerged from the trees in front of us. A gasp escaped Ema as she took in the full view of the wolf. Its sharp green eyes took us all in quickly as it neared our group. Mira and Louisa seemed to relax because they knew this wolf.

“Zane, you know we can never tell when you are coming. You need to give us a better warning next time so that we know it is you.” Louisa’s smile faded as it seemed she and Mira were having a private conversation with the wolf. “How did it happen?..... How long has it been?..... They are friends.” Is all that we heard from Louisa’s end.

Now that we knew there was no threat, the pain let loose all its fury on my body for moving so quickly so soon. I would have collapsed where I stood if Ema and Mira had not grabbed hold of my arms. They both helped me over to a tree to sit against since I was pushing myself so we could leave. Zane shifted from his wolf form, even in his human form his presence was overwhelming. His voice was strong and deep when he spoke to Louisa. It was relaxing and soothing to me. I dug my fingers into the ground at my side. I did not need to be finding his voice calming.

“Ema, Cecily, I am going to run ahead with Louisa to Pirn town. Nikolaj got hurt. It is not serious but we do want to look at it just to make sure, since shifters do tend to heal quickly. Zane is going to stay behind and travel with you. So you do not need to push yourself, Cecily.” Mira looked at both of us and squeezed Ema’s shoulder. Before she got up and walked back to Louisa.

They both turned and looked at us. I gave them a nod, letting them know we fully understood the situation. We watched them leave the clearing the same way Zane’s wolf form entered. Now that my body had a short rest, I slowly got up and caught Zane watching us. His stare was not cold nor welcoming, calculating or suspicious, just observant in the way he watched us. Zane traveled behind us as we slowly made our way to Pirn Town.

It was a quiet trip, as long as it was from us taking small breaks here and there. My body recovered more as the day went on. By the time we had reached the outskirts of Pirn town, the sun had made its journey in full that day. The few houses that we passed were alive inside with happy chatter and music. The light from the houses gave the road dim lighting, though as we neared the center of the town it was more alive. We found the back ways to be faster to travel as they were not filled with people.

As we neared the Inn that the Hunter’s were staying in, the sensation of blood lust washed over me. I grabbed Ema’s hand and guided her into the shadows behind me, instinctively concealing our presence. Zane must have sensed it too, for he positioned himself in front of us. Leaving just enough visibility of the crowd that was at the front of the building. I scanned the crowd quickly looking for whoever it was that let slip their intent. It could have been anyone from what this town had recently gone through, but with Ema being hunted, I wasn’t going to chance it.

“Stay behind me. I will take you through the back of the Inn.” Zane’s voice was a rough whisper.

Just as we were about to follow along with Zane, I caught a tall, well-dressed man making his way towards us through the crowd. The lights from the celebration danced across his face as small shadows chased after the light. In the brief moment when a shadow washed over his face, I could see his eyes glowing red. I was getting dealt a bad hand now. Not only was he a vampire, but an older one and he was on the hunt. Maybe we could make it to the others in time and they could maybe help us, but without knowing their situation, who was hurt or what was going on, I could not rely on them at this moment. I had to take Ema and make a run for it. If we got caught wounds or not, I wouldn’t care who saw me. I would not let anyone or anything hurt Ema.

Grasping Ema’s hand, I pulled her after me as we ran down the back streets of the town heading for the trees at its end. “Sorry, Mira, we part here.” Was all that I sent.

“What about the other’s, Cecily?” Ema’s voice rushed in my head as we ran.

“I’m sorry Ema. I would have let you spend more time with them, things change and now we must go.”

I could feel the sorrow and the pain of leaving coming from Ema but she soon pushed it away, knowing that we must keep going if we were to survive. I shifted my leopard ears out so I could hear a bit further. I picked up just the slightest sound of twigs being snapped and leaves dancing in a strong wind. The vampire was on our trail already and was making good time. With his long strides, he soon came upon us. We had made it a good way out, coming to a small clearing that was only there because of the small ravine that cut it off from the other side. There was a good-sized bridge that went across it connecting the sides together. However, if we were to be caught on it, we would be even more vulnerable. Though it was a better chance than being pushed into the ravine.

We turned our backs to the ravine, giving the vampire our full attention as he desired. The smile that grew on his face from seeing our situation was chilling. His face was what women would call handsome, his lips full, which made his smile alluring even though they hid his fangs and hunger. A strong jaw with high cheekbones and a narrowed nose. His eyes, I’m sure, would make a human woman swoon, but right now they were filled with the desire for blood as well as shining with excitement of the chase. Ema sucked in a breath at the vampire’s appearance. “Cecily, his eyes, his eyes are terrifying.” Came her hushed whisper.

“Well, my pretties, it seems this is the end of the road for you both. Though you did put up a delightful chase. I do say it has been a time since I have gotten this thrilled from one.” His smile grew crazy as it revealed his fangs. They glistened in the moonlight with a haunting beauty. He took his time drinking in our appearance before they zeroed in on the pulse beating in Ema’s neck. “Your pulse is beginning to race, oh what sweet music to my ears.” Came his voice dripping with blood lust.

“You will not lay a hand on her.” A growl started to rise up out of my throat when a huge black wolf burst from the trees, surprising us all as he attacked the vampire. Taking the chance that we had been given Ema and I ran for the bridge. We were close to the edge and could feel some of the rocks fall loose as we passed over them. We could hear the growls and snarls from the fight we were quickly leaving behind. The bridge was about to be in our reach when I felt a jerk on my arm and I was pulled violently over the edge of the ravine. My right hand shifted as I was digging it into the rock and dirt to stop our descent. We had finally stopped a good two arm lengths down from the edge. Both of Ema’s hands were on mine, one still clasped tightly in my own and her other holding fiercely onto my forearm. She was doing her best not to wiggle around, though when dangling against rocks with a sheer drop to a rough-looking river below can make you not think clearly.

“Ema, no matter what, keep ahold of me alright?” I gritted out. As my sore muscles’ screamed their protest.

“I will Cecily.” Ems’s voice held, little fear as she was determined to keep her grip.

“I’m going to try and get us back…” Before I could finish I could hear that the fight had gotten even closer to us. We were easy targets like this. A scream of rage from the vampire pierced through the night, like the last cry of a dying animal.

“Is the vampire dead Cecily? Did Zane win?” She looked up at me before glancing to the edge.

“Just focus on keeping your grip for now. I am sure we will find out the answer soon.” My breathing was a bit rough as my arms burned with the strain.

Sure enough, Zane’s faint shadow appeared overhead in the dim moonlight. He knelt down so he could better reach us. Vladimir appeared next to him with a leather strap that looked like a belt. It reached me just fine but it did not go all the way down to Ema.

“Can you pull her up far enough to reach it?” Vladimir glanced from my face to Ema’s.

Ema tightened her grip on my forearm before giving a small nod showing she was ready. It was a slow go lifting her up. My strength was starting to weaken from dangling for a good bit as well as already recovering from my previous injuries. Ema’s hand grasped the leather strap and was starting to be pulled up by Zane before I released my hold on her wrist. She was almost within their grasp when her hands suddenly slipped, our fingers were just a breath away from each other when I reached for her.

“CECILY!” Ema screamed.

I did not hesitate letting go and falling after Ema to catch her. I was slowly getting closer as the raging river was growing by the second. “I will not let this be her end.” The muscles and bones in my back shifted as wings sprouted from my back. I beat them fiercely against the air, racing to reach her. I caught her and was able to cover her head before we hit the water. Its coldness shocked me awake. Ema was doing her best to swim us both to shore. Where we were at the river had calmed now,, I tapped Ema’s arm, letting her know I was alright. I turned to start swimming to the shore when a sharp pain shot through my back. I gritted my teeth and swam after Ema. We were both breathing heavily when we reached the safety of the shore.

There were footsteps fast approaching from our left. “Vladimir?” Ema was hesitant, since it was so dark where we now were. I looked as well, blinking a few times as my eyes adjusted to the night. I could make out two figures fast approaching us. As they got nearer, I could make out Zane and Vladimir. He seemed to be following Zane pretty well, since elves could see well in dim light with the moon out but not as near as well in absolute darkness.

“Calm yourself Ema, remember Louisa taught you how to make witch lights.” I groaned out.

“That’s right. I forgot.” Was all Ema said.

It did not take her long to have two floating around us when the two Hunters showed up. Vladimir went straight to Ema to check and make sure she was okay before embracing her. I felt the overwhelming joy from Ema of being in Vladimir's arms for just a split second before all my pain made itself known. Not only was every muscle in my body screaming out to me. As well as my inner beast rearing its snarling head as it fought to get free. In the shape I was in now, it was even more difficult to try and cage it with our ever-growing bloodlust now.

“Vlad...Vladimir…. can...you...watch… watch Ema?” The question came out in gasps as I struggled with myself.

“I will.” Was his quiet reply as he kept his arms around Ema.

My body was using the last of my strength to heal itself. My legs were shaky as I walked further down the river. The bottom of the ravine opened up to a small forest from which I could just make out before my inner beast broke free of the cage and we shifted. The rock and dirt were cool under our pads as we slowly picked up our pace and headed into the forest. With all my strength being used up, I had no control over my primal side and soon ended up just losing consciousness.